A 34-YEAR-OLD Oxfordshire man has appeared in court after being caught using a video camera to film up women’s skirts in a shopping centre.

Matthew Parker, 34, of Buckland, near Faringdon, was spotted by security guards following women around Marks & Spencer and Primark shops in Bristol on August 28, the city’s magistrates’ court was told.

The guards tracked his movements on CCTV and realised he was filming up women’s skirts.

The police were called and Parker was arrested.

His video camera was found to have 31 clips of women’s underwear.

Parker pleaded guilty to charges of outraging public decency and possession of cannabis. Police found a small quantity of the drug when they searched Parker. Andrea Edwards, prosecuting, told the court that during the 10 minutes he was in Primark, Parker filmed under women’s skirts at least six times.

Will Palmer, defending Parker, said: “There was no suggestion he was going to broadcast the videos. He is an intelligent man who has never been in trouble before and is disgusted and ashamed.”

Parker was given a six-month community order, with a 12-week curfew between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £85 and his camera was confiscated.