A man labelled as an ‘upskirting’ offender, who had been tailing schoolgirls to take inappropriate pictures, was brought to justice with the help of a group of vigilant schoolgirls in Prestatyn. The man, Gareth Ashton, 39, of Victoria Road, was sentenced to four years and ten months in prison for his sordid actions. The group of schoolgirls managed to confront Ashton after he had been following them and taking lewd photographs. Despite having received a 12-month suspended sentence for similar offences previously, Ashton continued his criminal behaviour. The schoolgirls were quick-witted enough to capture an image of him and then proceeded to chase him down.
Ashton’s predatory behaviour was revealed when the girls reported that he had been stalking schoolchildren and engaging in activities like upskirting. His inappropriate actions were confirmed when police found 19 unregistered devices in his possession, a direct breach of his sexual harm prevention order. These devices included gaming equipment and various mobile phones. A search of the devices uncovered a collection of 1,253 indecent images, mostly of girls under 10, categorised as Category C, along with five disturbing videos. Furthermore, Ashton had covertly taken 696 Category C images at a seafront location and had captured disturbing footage of a child walking naked to the beach and washing in a communal shower.
During the sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court, the judge, Her Honour Nicola Saffman, took into account Ashton’s autism diagnosis, stating that his “neuro diverse condition” affected his understanding of the consequences of his actions. Alongside the four years and ten months prison term for his persistent breach of the sexual harm prevention order, Ashton also received additional concurrent sentences for upskirting a 13-year-old girl and producing indecent images. Despite five months of his previously suspended sentence being activated, they will run concurrently with the new terms. The judge also imposed a restraining order on Ashton to protect the public.
PC Julian Tomlinson, from North Wales Police’s Protection of Vulnerable People Unit, commended the courage of the schoolgirls and emphasised the importance of creating a safe environment for children and communities. He praised the victim’s willingness to support the investigation, leading to Ashton’s conviction and preventing him from reoffending. As a community, it is essential to take a stand against individuals who target vulnerable people, particularly children.
The case serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of being vigilant and proactive in safeguarding against such predatory behaviour. The actions of these schoolgirls not only resulted in the apprehension of a dangerous offender but also highlighted the strength and resilience of the community in standing up against crimes of this nature. With the support of law enforcement and the active involvement of individuals, we can work together to ensure the safety and protection of all members of society.