Upskirting teen and child images: Sedgmore sentenced in Cardiff 2026

Key Points

• David Sedgmore, aged 34, of New Inn, Pontypool, pleaded guilty to voyeurism charges for taking an upskirting photograph of a 17-year-old girl without her permission.
• A police raid at his residence in December 2025 resulted in the seizure of over 300 indecent images of children, including categories A and B, with the youngest victim being only three years old.
• Furthermore, he pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images and possession of extreme pornography, and had previous convictions for forcing a child under the age of 14 to watch a sexual act.
• Recorder Mark Cotter KC sentenced him to 10 months in prison, which was suspended for 18 months along with a rehabilitation and community service order.
• The teenage victim said that the upskirting ordeal made her feel “extremely embarrassed,” and made her lose faith in people and scared that the image could resurface.

Wales (Wales Times) August 28, 2026 – A man who took an upskirting photograph of a teenage girl was found in possession of hundreds of indecent images of children, including material depicting a three-year-old boy, uk/local/cardiff/">Cardiff Crown Court has heard.

David Sedgmore, of Larch Close, New Inn, Pontypool, admitted voyeurism, three counts of creating indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornographic images. He was sentenced on Friday to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and given a series of requirements including an accredited programme, 15 days of rehabilitation activity, 80 hours of unpaid work, sex offender notification requirements, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), and a 10-year restraining order.

The court was told that on December 18 last year, police executed a warrant at Sedgmore’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A subsequent search revealed more than 300 indecent images of children, categorised as two category A, two category B, and 334 category C images. The youngest child depicted was a three-year-old boy. Among the material was an upskirting image of a 17-year-old girl, taken without her knowledge or consent.

What did the teenage victim say about the upskirting image?

In a personal statement read to the court by barrister James Evans, the 17-year-old victim described the emotional impact of discovering she had been filmed without her consent. “Upon learning that someone had taken an upskirt image of me without my consent, I lost my trust in people, especially men,” she said. “I constantly find myself looking over my shoulder, monitoring the actions of those around me… I fear that these images might be shared and could resurface later.”

She added that she felt “deeply embarrassed” and was a private person who would never willingly share such images, particularly with someone she was not in a relationship with. The statement also referenced concerns about cloud storage and the possibility that the image could be accessed again in future.

What offences did David Sedgmore admit and what was his background?

As reported by WalesOnline, Sedgmore admitted guilt to voyeurism, three counts of creating indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornographic materials. The court was informed he had a previous conviction for forcing a child under the age of 14 to witness a sexual act.

In mitigation, defence advocate Jac Brown told the court that Sedgmore faced significant personal challenges, including neurodiversity and a pornography addiction that had led him to seek out illegal images of children. Brown said Sedgmore was now living in a hostel, separated from his partner and two children, and was likely to lose his job as a result of the convictions. The defence also noted that Sedgmore had been exposed to sexual content at a young age and had himself been a victim of abuse.

What sentence and orders did the court impose?

Recorder Mark Cotter KC, sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, addressed Sedgmore directly about the nature of the offending. “You need to realise that every single indecent image of a child you possess represents a real child,” he said. “Each of these images, particularly those in categories A and B, depict a crime scene. The crimes associated with category A images would typically warrant a sentence measured in decades if the perpetrator were to be tried in this court.”

Sedgmore received a 10-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. In addition, he was ordered to complete an accredited programme, undertake 15 days of rehabilitation activity, and perform 80 hours of unpaid community service. He must comply with sex offender notification requirements, adhere to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and is subject to a 10-year restraining order.

How does upskirting fit into UK law and recent enforcement?

Upskirting the act of taking a photograph or video beneath a person’s clothing without their consent for sexual gratification was criminalised across England and Wales in 2019 under the Voyeurism (Offences) Act. The offence carries a maximum penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and can result in inclusion on the sex offenders register.

Recent cases in Wales have seen upskirting offenders prosecuted and sentenced, including a 39-year-old man caught on CCTV at a Cardiff shopping centre who admitted the offence and was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years, complete unpaid work and meet rehabilitation requirements. In another west Wales case, a 38-year-old man who attempted to take upskirting photographs of schoolgirls aged 13 and 14 was jailed for 18 months at Swansea Crown Court and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years alongside a sexual harm prevention order.

Background to the development

The Sedgmore case emerged from a police investigation triggered by the seizure of electronic devices during a warrant execution at his Pontypool home in December 2025. Forensic examination of the devices identified more than 300 indecent images of children, classified under the Sentencing Council’s categories A, B and C, with category A representing the most severe level of abuse imagery. The presence of an upskirting image of a 17-year-old girl linked the child sexual exploitation material to a separate voyeurism offence against a teenager.

The prosecution relied on digital evidence recovered from Sedgmore’s devices, alongside his admissions to multiple charges. The court also considered his prior conviction for causing a child under 14 to witness a sexual act, which formed part of the sentencing context. Mitigating factors presented by the defence included neurodiversity, addiction issues, and personal history of abuse, but the judge emphasised the harm represented by each image and the need for protective measures.

Prediction: How could this case affect parents, teenagers and schools in Wales?

This development is likely to heighten awareness among parents, teenagers and schools in Wales about the risks of upskirting and the overlap between voyeurism and possession of child sexual abuse material. For teenagers, particularly girls, the victim’s statement about loss of trust and ongoing anxiety may resonate with those who have experienced similar violations or fear being filmed in public spaces, on public transport or at events. Parents may respond by discussing consent, digital safety and how to report suspicious behaviour, while schools could reinforce safeguarding policies, including guidance on recognising and reporting upskirting attempts.

For the wider community, the case underscores that individuals found with indecent images of children may also commit contact or voyeuristic offences against minors, reinforcing the importance of robust digital forensics and multi-agency safeguarding. Expect increased emphasis on victim support services, clearer reporting routes for upskirting incidents, and continued judicial messaging that possession of abuse images represents ongoing harm to real children.