MARK DURDEN CAUGHT IN LAMBERHURST AND TUNBRIDGE WELLS FOR SHOCKING SKIRT-PHOTOGRAPHY CRIME

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Mark Durden, a 60-year-old man from Old Town Hill in Lamberhurst, has admitted to engaging in a series of invasive and illegal acts over a span of three years. The allegations involve the secretive taking of photographs and videos up the skirts of young women and teenage schoolgirls in the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre located in Tunbridge Wells.

Durden appeared before Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court to face charges related to outraging public decency. The court heard that he had been secretly capturing images of women without their knowledge, with the total number of videos exceeding 250. Prosecutor David Holman detailed that the police investigation was initiated after a report from a staff member at Topshop, one of the stores within the shopping centre.

The Topshop employee reported that a man was frequently visiting the store from around 3:30 pm onwards, and his behavior was deemed suspicious and unsettling. The staff member observed that Durden was not there to shop but was instead fixated on young girls, many of whom were in school uniforms. He was seen following them around the store, which made the staff feel uncomfortable and raised concerns about his intentions.

Police responded swiftly, and CCTV footage captured Durden’s movements. He was arrested on June 10, 2016, at which point authorities also seized electronic devices, including a black laptop bag. During the arrest, Durden was recorded speaking with his wife, admitting that he had been taking pictures up young girls’ skirts using a device stored in a bag, which he described as a 'thing.'

Further investigation revealed that Durden had concealed an iPhone behind magazines in a cut-out section of his laptop bag, allowing him to secretly record footage. The police examined the devices and uncovered a disturbing collection of videos spanning from June 13, 2013, to June 10, 2016. In total, they found 268 videos taken with an iPhone, showing the backs of legs and images up the skirts of unsuspecting females, including a significant number of teenage schoolgirls—93 of the videos specifically involving young students.

The targeted locations within Royal Victoria Place included several popular shops such as Topshop, New Look, Marks & Spencer, Miss Selfridge, and Claire’s Accessories. Additional footage was also recovered from Sainsbury’s, the train station, and platforms within the London Underground, indicating a pattern of invasive behavior across multiple public venues.

Three female magistrates, including the chairman Abigail Brennan, agreed that the case should be transferred to the Crown Court for sentencing. Durden was granted bail under strict conditions, which prohibit him from possessing any recording devices in public and require supervision when visiting his granddaughter. The sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place at Maidstone Crown Court, although an exact date has not yet been set.