Knutsford Station pervert jailed for filming up schoolgirls' skirts

James Rudge, of Marcliff Grove, squatted on the top step of the Manchester-bound platform on May 11, 2023, waiting, while pretending to be filming something on the ground.

As three schoolgirls, two aged 15 and one aged 16, reached the top steps, he tilted his phone camera over and filmed up their skirts as they passed by.

The girls noticed something was amiss and became suspicious, and one confronted him. 

He fled, but investigators from British Transport Police later identified him via the station’s CCTV.

The 41-year-old was arrested and his home was searched on October 18.

He denied upskirting the girls, and told police they’d find no illegal images or videos on his phone.

The 41-year-old was sentenced to 18 months for his offences (Image: British Transport Police)

But forensic investigators found 43 still images and four videos, mostly taken in upskirting scenarios. 

Police found the images he took on May 11, and the phone's GPS software proved others had been taken at both Knutsford and Eccles stations on Rudge's handset. 

The phone also contained indecent images of a much younger girl, and an extreme pornographic image involving an animal.  

He was rearrested on December 10 and charged with one count each of producing, making, and possessing indecent images of children, and five counts of voyeurism.

He admitted all charges at Chester Crown Court on January 18, and was remanded in custody.

When he returned to Chester for sentencing on Tuesday, February 27, Oliver King, prosecuting, told the court Rudge is a man of previous good character save for a caution for battery in 2009.

Mr King read out victim impact statements from two of the girls he filmed at Knutsford Station, where one said she now has great difficulty trusting adult men.

She has to seek reassurance as she can’t help believe perfectly innocent men are trying to upskirt her, and now wears shorts under her school skirt to stop it from happening again.

The other girl said the incident was a ‘violation of her privacy' which had left her feeling ‘disgusting’ and ‘vulnerable’.  

Defending, Alexandra Carrier said Rudge’s strongest mitigation was his guilty pleas, though asked the court to note he has experienced significant bereavement in his life, and suffers with poor mental health.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Berkson said an indefinite sexual harm prevention order was needed to protect the public, as well as a ban from working with children.

He said: “You’re a man of previous good character, and you’ve been hardworking for most of your adult life.

“You’ve had some successful relationships in the past, as well as some less successful ones.

“You’ve now involved yourself in serious offending.”

“I have no doubt the need for appropriate punishment can only be met by an immediate custodial sentence.”

Judge Berkson sentenced Rudge to 18 months in prison.

He must also sign the sex offenders register for 10 years, a pay a victim surcharge.