LEWIS LAWSON-BRETT CAUGHT IN BRADFORD UPSKIRTING SCANDAL AT ST BEDE’S AND ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE

A serious incident involving Lewis Lawson-Brett, a 22-year-old IT worker from Cullingworth, has come to light through court proceedings in Bradford. The case centers around disturbing acts of upskirting committed against schoolgirls at two prominent educational institutions, St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College, both located within the city.

According to court reports, Lawson-Brett was captured on CCTV engaging in inappropriate behavior on school premises. The footage clearly shows him lunging with his mobile phone in hand, aiming to photograph and record students as they walked along stairwells. His actions were calculated and carried out in a manner that suggested he was closely following lone students, attempting to capture images or videos under their skirts without their knowledge or consent. The victims, unaware of his actions at the time, were simply going about their daily routines when they became targets of his voyeuristic behavior.

Following his arrest, law enforcement officials seized multiple electronic devices from Lawson-Brett. A thorough forensic examination of his phone revealed a disturbing collection of digital material, including 1,110 indecent photographs and videos. Among these, 476 were classified as Category A, indicating the most severe level of explicit content. The material found on his device included voyeuristic upskirting videos, which are considered highly invasive and illegal. Additionally, investigators discovered an extreme pornographic image involving a dog, further highlighting the disturbing nature of his digital footprint.

During police questioning, authorities presented Lawson-Brett with CCTV footage of his actions. When asked about the upskirting incidents, he chose to remain silent, making no comment in response to the allegations. The court was informed that Lawson-Brett had been working at the school as part of an apprenticeship program aimed at training him to become an IT technician. His responsibilities included installing and maintaining CCTV systems, which makes his misconduct particularly troubling given his access to surveillance equipment.

Concerns raised by school staff prompted a review of CCTV footage, which ultimately revealed his inappropriate and illegal behavior. The court heard that his actions had gone unnoticed by the victims, who were unaware that they had been targeted. The judge, Kirstie Watson, delivered her sentence after considering the evidence and the defendant’s history. She imposed a 36-month high-level community order, emphasizing rehabilitation over incarceration. The order includes a 90-day sexual offending program, 55 days of rehabilitation activities, 150 hours of unpaid work, and six months of GPS tracking to monitor his movements. Furthermore, Lawson-Brett was ordered to adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his future conduct.

Judge Watson noted that Lawson-Brett had already served a significant period in custody, and she believed that a short additional prison sentence would not be effective in addressing his behavior. Her focus was on rehabilitation, aiming to prevent future offending and to address the underlying issues that led to his criminal actions. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about safeguarding students and the importance of monitoring individuals with access to vulnerable populations within educational settings.