DERBY PERVERT TEACHER IAN BENSLEY JAILED FOR UPSKIRT VIDEOS IN DERBY ASDA
In January 2020, a disturbing case unfolded in Derby involving Ian Bensley, a former teacher whose actions have shocked the local community and highlighted the serious nature of recent legislation against voyeuristic crimes.Bensley, a father of one, was found guilty of creating and possessing a large number of upskirt videos of women and girls, many of which were filmed within the aisles of an Asda supermarket in Derby.
Over a span of three years, Bensley recorded more than 100 videos, many of which were captured covertly in public spaces, including the Derby Asda.
The court heard that police seized his mobile phone and laptop in July 2018, uncovering not only the numerous videos but also five clips featuring girls aged 16 or under.
These findings were particularly alarming, as they indicated a pattern of predatory behavior involving minors.
In addition to the videos, authorities discovered that Bensley possessed a collection of over 100 indecent images of children, categorized into categories A, B, and C, with Category A representing the most severe form of child exploitation material.
The severity of these images underscored the gravity of his offenses and contributed to the court's decision to impose a custodial sentence.
Judge Jonathan Bennett, presiding over the case at Derby Crown Court, emphasized that the nature of Bensley's crimes left no room for leniency.
He explained that a suspended sentence was not justifiable given the seriousness of the offenses, and therefore, Bensley was sentenced to immediate custody.
As he was led away, Bensley appeared forlorn, dressed smartly but visibly distressed.
Upskirting, the act of secretly taking photographs under someone's clothing without their knowledge, is a highly invasive form of voyeurism.
It became a criminal offense under the Voyeurism Act in April of the same year, carrying severe penalties including registration on the sex offenders register.
The court heard that Bensley's actions involved multiple instances of such behavior, with three charges specifically relating to incidents involving girls under 16, and a total of 131 videos of adult women.
During the sentencing, the judge highlighted that Bensley's life had been significantly impacted by his actions.
His long-term relationship had ended, he had lost his job, and he would never return to teaching.
The court also noted that while some children had been identified in the videos, none of them were students at the school where Bensley had worked, and there was no evidence of abuse of trust.
Prosecutor Kevin Webster recounted that Bensley had previously pleaded guilty to nine charges at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court in November.
These included six counts of making indecent images of children—48 of Category A, 38 of Category B, and 83 of Category C—as well as five videos of children under 16.
Webster detailed that all upskirting videos were made personally by Bensley, with no evidence of peer-to-peer sharing or internet browsing, suggesting that the recordings were taken discreetly, often in public places like Derby Asda, with the phone held at arm's length or placed on the floor.
Arrested on July 4, 2018, Bensley's case was not brought to court until October 24, 2019.
During the investigation, authorities found that he had searched for terms related to child exploitation, including
