DISTRESSING CONTENT WARNING: The schoolteacher had over 80 devices containing numerous indecent images of children, including a school-issued laptop.

17:13, Fri, May 15, 2026 Updated: 17:14, Fri, May 15, 2026

Former teacher, Mathew Gilkes, 47, has been jailed for 16 years plus an additional five-year licence at Preston Crown Court

The schoolteacher had over 80 devices containing numerous indecent images of children (Image: Lancashire Constabulary/PA Wire)

A former high schoolteacher has been jailed after he took more than a million upskirt images of pupils using secret cameras hidden in pens. The prolific offending of Matthew Gilkes, 47, was unmasked after he was caught taking photographs of children under cubicles at a leisure centre in Chorley, Lancashire, in August 2024.

He was arrested after his vehicle was traced leaving the car park, Lancashire Police have said. A search of his home and workplace uncovered more than 80 devices, including a school-issued laptop, along with spy pens, handheld cameras and memory cards containing numerous indecent images of children. Many of the images Gilkes had taken were of pupils at his school. It was also discovered that he set up fake social media accounts to pose as a teenage boy to groom and manipulate girls to send indecent images and videos of themselves.

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Matthew Gilkes Court Case

Gilkes used spy pens and handheld cameras to take numerous indecent images of children (Image: Lancashire Constabulary/PA Wire)

On Friday, Gilkes, who taught at a high school in Greater Manchester, was jailed at Preston Crown Court for 16 years and told he must serve an additional five years on licence.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to various offences, including operating equipment beneath clothing without consent, engaging in sexual communication with a child and possessing indecent images of children.

Gilkes, formerly of Harrison Road, Chorley, was also given an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Ministry Of Justice & Crown Prosecution Service, London

Stacey Gosling, senior crown prosecutor for the CPS said Gilkes' offending 'knew no limits' (Image: Getty)

Following sentencing, Detective Constable Holly McClave said: “Matthew Gilkes is a highly dangerous man who has shown persistent, predatory behaviour towards young girls who he has taken 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.”

Stacey Gosling, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “He gave no thought to the lasting damage his abuse would have on young victims and, when caught by police, was found to have a staggering number of indecent images showing his depraved offending knew no limits.”