Darren Elliott of Grimsby Jailed for Voyeurism at Lincolnshire School
| Red Rose Database
Grimsby Child Sexual Abuser
In December 2010, a disturbing case emerged involving Darren Elliott, a school worker from Grimsby, who was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in secretly filming schoolgirls and female staff members. Elliott, a former taxi driver residing on Kirkstead Crescent in Grimsby, used covert electronic devices to capture explicit images and videos within a school located in Lincolnshire, which for legal reasons cannot be publicly named.
Elliott’s actions were calculated and carried out with a clear intent to satisfy his own sexual urges. He strategically placed hidden cameras around the school premises, including in the female teachers’ toilet and on the ground and under desks, to secretly record individuals without their knowledge. Among his victims were three teachers who were filmed for durations of up to 40 seconds after Elliott installed a secret camera over a partition in the ladies’ restroom, as detailed during the court proceedings at Lincoln Crown Court.
Prosecutor Phil Howes emphasized the deliberate nature of Elliott’s misconduct, describing the placement of the device as “very deliberate and very risky.” The court was also informed that Elliott took “upskirt” photographs of pupils at the primary school, capturing images of their legs and thighs. These illicit photographs included images of three school workers, all taken while Elliott was employed as the caretaker at the school, a position he held since May 2007.
Witnesses and staff members described Elliott as “creepy,” noting that he appeared “flushed” after being seen leaving the women’s toilets. Despite these observations, Elliott, a married father of three, was only apprehended in February of the following year. The arrest was triggered when a mobile phone was discovered hidden behind a mug in a cupboard. Upon inspection, a staff member was shocked to find the phone displayed a naked torso, which led to further investigation.
Following the discovery, police were called, and a thorough search of Elliott’s devices revealed over 350 indecent images of children stored on his two mobile phones and a memory card. The court heard victim impact statements from some of Elliott’s victims, revealing the emotional toll his actions had taken. One teacher tearfully expressed, “Not a day goes by when I don’t think about this. I just burst into tears.” Another school worker described feeling “so violated” by Elliott’s conduct.
It was noted that Elliott had no prior convictions or cautions and had been vetted through an enhanced criminal records check before employment. However, some staff members admitted to feeling “uneasy” around him and had observed him “lurking” around the school when he should have been working.
During mitigation, attorney Andrew Bailey highlighted the devastating impact on Elliott’s personal life, stating, “His family have left him and his house is about to be repossessed. He went to live with his mother but was forced to leave after she was harassed by gangs every night.”
In total, Elliott pleaded guilty to 16 sexual offences, including seven counts of voyeurism and one of outraging public decency. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Judge Sean Morris, delivering the sentence, condemned Elliott’s actions, especially noting that his victims included young girls and teachers, which added to the severity of the case. The judge also mentioned that it was “virtually impossible” to identify the victims from the images, providing some measure of reassurance.
Judge Morris warned that anyone seeking revenge against Elliott’s mother would face jail time, underscoring the seriousness with which the court viewed his crimes and their impact on the community.
Elliott’s actions were calculated and carried out with a clear intent to satisfy his own sexual urges. He strategically placed hidden cameras around the school premises, including in the female teachers’ toilet and on the ground and under desks, to secretly record individuals without their knowledge. Among his victims were three teachers who were filmed for durations of up to 40 seconds after Elliott installed a secret camera over a partition in the ladies’ restroom, as detailed during the court proceedings at Lincoln Crown Court.
Prosecutor Phil Howes emphasized the deliberate nature of Elliott’s misconduct, describing the placement of the device as “very deliberate and very risky.” The court was also informed that Elliott took “upskirt” photographs of pupils at the primary school, capturing images of their legs and thighs. These illicit photographs included images of three school workers, all taken while Elliott was employed as the caretaker at the school, a position he held since May 2007.
Witnesses and staff members described Elliott as “creepy,” noting that he appeared “flushed” after being seen leaving the women’s toilets. Despite these observations, Elliott, a married father of three, was only apprehended in February of the following year. The arrest was triggered when a mobile phone was discovered hidden behind a mug in a cupboard. Upon inspection, a staff member was shocked to find the phone displayed a naked torso, which led to further investigation.
Following the discovery, police were called, and a thorough search of Elliott’s devices revealed over 350 indecent images of children stored on his two mobile phones and a memory card. The court heard victim impact statements from some of Elliott’s victims, revealing the emotional toll his actions had taken. One teacher tearfully expressed, “Not a day goes by when I don’t think about this. I just burst into tears.” Another school worker described feeling “so violated” by Elliott’s conduct.
It was noted that Elliott had no prior convictions or cautions and had been vetted through an enhanced criminal records check before employment. However, some staff members admitted to feeling “uneasy” around him and had observed him “lurking” around the school when he should have been working.
During mitigation, attorney Andrew Bailey highlighted the devastating impact on Elliott’s personal life, stating, “His family have left him and his house is about to be repossessed. He went to live with his mother but was forced to leave after she was harassed by gangs every night.”
In total, Elliott pleaded guilty to 16 sexual offences, including seven counts of voyeurism and one of outraging public decency. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Judge Sean Morris, delivering the sentence, condemned Elliott’s actions, especially noting that his victims included young girls and teachers, which added to the severity of the case. The judge also mentioned that it was “virtually impossible” to identify the victims from the images, providing some measure of reassurance.
Judge Morris warned that anyone seeking revenge against Elliott’s mother would face jail time, underscoring the seriousness with which the court viewed his crimes and their impact on the community.