Pensioner Admits to Upskirting with Phone Strapped to Shoe in Aldi
A 67-year-old pensioner has been sentenced after admitting to filming up women's skirts by strapping a mobile phone to his shoe in an Aldi supermarket, claiming he was "sexually frustrated" during his marriage.
Incident and Discovery
Anthony Wickham, a retired carpenter from Bearsted, was caught after a woman shopping with her son in Aldi noticed him acting suspiciously. She observed a mobile phone tied to his right foot with the camera facing upward, and when she confronted him, he refused to hand it over and left the store.
Police reviewed CCTV footage, which showed Wickham "wandering around the store, making unusual movements with his right foot and placing it beneath women's skirts". An appeal led to former customers identifying him, resulting in his arrest in July of that year.
Evidence and Charges
Analysis of devices seized from Wickham's home revealed:
- Footage of him attaching his phone to his foot and walking around stores, pausing near females to record beneath their clothing.
- 140 images of an unknown woman using a toilet, though there was no evidence he recorded this himself.
- Three sexually explicit photographs of children aged seven to 14, which had been deleted but were recovered by police.
- Internet searches for terms like "upskirt in supermarket" and links to spy camera websites.
Wickham pleaded guilty to:
- Recording an image beneath clothing without consent.
- Installing equipment to observe private acts for sexual gratification.
- Possessing indecent images of children.
Victim Impact and Sentencing
In a statement read to Maidstone Crown Court, the Aldi victim described feeling "violated, exposed, and humiliated", with lasting anxiety affecting her daily life. She added that her son witnessed the incident, causing him distress and guilt.
Judge Gareth Branston called the crimes "disgusting and violating" and noted Wickham should feel "embarrassed and ashamed". Despite the "significant planning and multiple targets", the judge suspended a six-month jail term for 18 months due to rehabilitation prospects.
Wickham was ordered to:
- Complete a 26-day probation programme and up to 30 rehabilitation sessions.
- Adhere to a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.
- Pay £150 in prosecution costs.
Background and Defence
Wickham, who has no prior convictions, told probation officers he felt "unhappy, isolated, lonely, and sexually frustrated" during his 43-year marriage, now separated. His defence lawyer, Emin Kandola, stated he was "profoundly remorseful" and had taken steps like therapy to address his behaviour.
