A pervert has been given a suspended prison sentence after being caught with nearly 1,000 upskirting videos.

A police probe found many of the offences happened in Hemel Hempstead supermarkets with some also taking place in Baldock.

Colin Hitch, from Bovingdon, placed his mobile phone in a shopping basket at Tesco and walked close to four victims to capture images under their dresses.

A woman became suspicious after twice noticing Hitch stood nearby, and reported him after his basket knocked against her leg several times and she spotted the phone.

Police later checked the store’s CCTV and found he had targeted three more women that day last June.

After being arrested at his home, officers seized other media devices belonging to him and discovered 980 video clips – which were mostly upskirting. One also showed a woman in a bathroom undressing and getting into a shower.

Hitch, 57, admitted recording the videos without consent when interviewed by detectives, and officers were able to identify 22 more upskirting victims.

Many of the incidents were in Hemel Hempstead supermarkets, police said.

Hitch later pleaded guilty to five offences of recording an image or operating equipment under clothing to observe another without consent; and one offence of voyeurism by recording a private act.

A further 22 offences were also taken into consideration by the court.

Hitch, who has been detained on remand for the past seven months, was sentenced to 39 weeks’ prison, suspended for 12 months.

As well as the suspended sentence, the judge granted a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order against him. 

Detective Constable Rebecca Hargrave said: “Hitch collected hundreds of images of women on his phone – each one a violation of that person. Many of these women remain unidentified as they likely were unaware of his actions. Had they known however, I am sure they would have felt demeaned, intruded upon, and even humiliated.

“Hitch said he knew what he had done was wrong, but despite this continued without any consideration for the women he targeted. We will not tolerate these kinds of offences that target women going about their lives, where they have a right to feel safe and free from this kind of intrusion.”