Upskirting Offender Faces Prison After Targeting Birmingham Schoolchildren
A man who secretly filmed women and children in a series of upskirting incidents has been banned from going within a mile of a Birmingham school. Kevin Gilmore, 41, from Redacre Road in Sutton Coldfield, is now facing the prospect of a prison sentence after his case was deemed too serious for magistrates' court.
Escalation from Railway Station to School Gates
Gilmore's disturbing behavior began at Wylde Green railway station near his home, where he disguised a mobile phone in soil and leaves to film up women's skirts. He was confronted twice by the same member of the public in August 2023, who on one occasion grabbed the phone and threw it into undergrowth.
After these incidents, Gilmore moved his operation to outside a Birmingham school, where he targeted girls on four separate occasions. Police raided his home in November 2023 and seized multiple devices, with one containing images and videos of young schoolgirls filmed outside the school gates.
Court Proceedings and Judicial Response
At Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday, March 30, District Judge David Wain heard that Gilmore had pleaded guilty to six charges of recording an image under clothing to observe another without consent - commonly known as 'upskirting'.
Despite a probation officer concluding Gilmore posed a low risk of re-offending and recommending a community order, Judge Wain declared: "This is incredibly serious. This was persistent and prepared behavior which escalated from targeting women to targeting children."
The judge added: "Given all of those matters it is so serious they are appropriately to be sentenced by the crown court." The case has been adjourned until April 27 at Birmingham Crown Court.
Restrictions and Ongoing Investigation
Judge Wain imposed a strict condition that Gilmore must not go within a mile of the school where he targeted girls, which cannot be identified for legal reasons. The judge noted Gilmore was fortunate to remain on bail but considered it inappropriate to remand him in custody given his court attendance while on bail.
During proceedings, Judge Wain questioned why Gilmore had not been charged with producing child pornography. Prosecutor Shazad Imam stated there was 'no satisfactory explanation' but confirmed the enquiry would be sent back to the Crown Prosecution Service for further consideration.
Medical Context and Judicial Rejection
The court was informed that Gilmore has epilepsy, but Judge Wain firmly rejected any suggestion of a link between the medical condition and the defendant's actions. The judge stated it would be offensive to others who suffer from the same disorder to imply such a connection.
Gilmore's case now awaits sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court, where he faces potentially severe consequences for his calculated campaign of covert filming that progressed from adult women to vulnerable schoolchildren.
