Former teacher from Chorley who took a million upskirt images of pupils jailed

A former high school teacher from Chorley who took more than a million upskirt images of pupils using secret cameras hidden in pens.

Sexual predator Mathew Gilkes also used fake social media accounts to pose as a teenager to groom and manipulate girls to send him indecent images and videos of themselves.

Gilkes’ prolific offending was unmasked when he was caught taking pictures of children at a leisure centre in Chorley in August 2024.

A trace of his vehicle leaving the car park led to him being identified and arrested.

A search of his home and workplace uncovered more than 80 devices including mobile devices, computers and laptops – including a school issue laptop - , spy pens, handheld cameras and memory cards containing thousands of indecent images of children.

Many of the images Gilkes had taken were of pupils at his school where he worked as an ICT teacher using cameras disguised as pens and tiny cube cameras.

As well as taking images Gilkes also posed online as a teenge boy talking to a large number of underage girls, grooming them and pressurising them to send images to him.

Gilkes, 47, formerly of Harrison Road, Chorley, who taught at a high school in Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty in November last year to 42 charges including operate equipment beneath clothing of another without consent, commonly known as upskirting, engaging in sexual communication with a child, indecent images of children offences and cause / incite a girl 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity.

He appeared at Preston Crown Court this week where he was jailed for 16 years with an additional five year licence.

He was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Det Con Holly McClave and Det Con Rachel Phillips, of our South Exploitation Team, helped bring Gilkes to justice.

DC McClave said: “Mathew Gilkes is a highly dangerous man who has shown persistent predatory behaviour towards young girls who he has taking advantage of, groomed and exploited for his own sexual gratification.

“The victims in this case have shown incredible bravery in speaking about what happened to them and I commend them for their courage. I hope this sentence gives them some sense that justice has been done.

“We will continue to target those who exploit and abuse young people, we will listen to victims, and we will do all we can to put offenders before the courts, as we have done here.”

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a sexual offence report it online via https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or call 101. You should do so knowing you will be believed, you will be listened to, and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts.

Specialist support for anyone in Lancashire affected by sexual violence is available through Victim Support. Funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, their specially trained professionals offer free, confidential, and non-judgemental support. They listen, provide emotional and practical help, and prioritise safety and confidentiality. Further information is available at victimsupport.org.uk/lancashire.