‘Deceitful’ piano teacher, 30, took upskirting pictures and videos of young pupils

A piano teacher who took upskirting images and videos of his young pupils has been jailed.

Police branded Ben Thomas "deceitful" after he abused his position of trust to "prey on innocent and vulnerable children for his own sexual gratification".

The 30-year-old was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to taking indecent photographs and videos of children and possessing indecent photographs and videos of children.

Thomas, from East Yorkshire, was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order following his appearance at Grimsby Crown Court last week.

Speaking after sentencing, detective constable Becky McInnis, of Humberside Police, praised the bravery of victims for coming forward.

She said: "The actions of Ben Thomas cannot be described as anything other than deceitful.

"He abused his position of trust preying on some of the most vulnerable members of our society who looked up to and trusted him.

"I am pleased he is now being punished for his unforgivable actions."

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Statistics released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) last year revealed at least a third of upskirting offenders are also committing other serious sexual crimes.

A total of 46 men and a teenage boy were prosecuted for 128 offences under the Voyeurism (Offences) Act between 1 April 2020 and 30 June 2021.

The CPS said analysis showed 15 of the men were also charged with other sexual crimes at the same time – including child abuse, sexual assault, extreme pornography and other voyeurism offences.

Upskirting prosecutions have more than doubled in the second year since the laws came into force.

In the previous 12-month period, after the legislation was introduced on 12 April, 2019, there were 16 prosecutions for 47 offences.

Shops, particularly supermarkets, "remain by far the most common location for upskirting to take place", the CPS said, accounting for 36% of offences since last spring.

The majority of other areas where crimes took place included streets and parks, on public transport, train and bus stations or at bus stops, and on escalators on the London Underground.