Matthew Gilkes, formerly an ICT teacher, was jailed for 16 years after police uncovered more than a million up-skirting images of pupils on over 80 seized devices
A sick teacher has been handed a prison sentence after officers uncovered what is believed to be more than a million up-skirting images of pupils stored on his devices.
Matthew Gilkes, a former ICT teacher at a Greater Manchester high school, was caught photographing children at a leisure centre in Chorley in 2024, according to Lancashire Police.
He was identified and subsequently arrested after his vehicle was traced leaving the premises.
Over 80 devices were confiscated from his Chorley home, exposing thousands of indecent images of children saved across memory cards, cameras, spy pens and laptops — including one device that had been issued by his school.
Officers revealed that a significant number of the images depicted pupils from his school, captured using cube cameras and cameras concealed within pens.
Gilkes also created fake social media profiles, posing as a teenage boy to contact multiple underage girls and coerce them into sending indecent photographs, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The 47-year-old, formerly of Harrison Road in Chorley, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to 42 charges.
These included up-skirting, engaging in sexual communication with a child, possessing indecent images of children, and causing or inciting a girl aged between 13 and 15 to engage in sexual activity.
At Preston Crown Court this week, Gilkes was sentenced to 16 years behind bars, with an additional five-year licence period, and was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.
Det Con Holly McClave and Det Con Rachel Phillips, of Lancashire Constabulary’s Exploitation Team, worked on the investigation that brought Gilkes to justice.
DC McClave said: “Matthew Gilkes is a highly dangerous man who has shown persistent predatory behaviour towards young girls who he has taking advantage of, groomed and exploited for his own sexual gratification.
“The victims in this case have shown incredible bravery in speaking about what happened to them and I commend them for their courage. I hope this sentence gives them some sense that justice has been done.
“We will continue to target those who exploit and abuse young people, we will listen to victims, and we will do all we can to put offenders before the courts, as we have done here.”
Anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, or knows someone who has, can report it online at https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or ring 101.
“You should do so knowing you will be believed, you will be listened to, and we will do everything in our power to put the perpetrator before the courts,” the force stated.
Specialist help for anyone in Lancashire affected by sexual violence is accessible through Victim Support. More information can be found at victimsupport.org.uk/lancashire.
