A PERVERT who followed a schoolgirl onto a train and took a photo up her skirt has avoided jail.

Stephen Hunt, 35, took the picture under the girl’s clothes when they were travelling to Hockley.

Southend Crown Court heard yesterday how Hunt had followed his victim for several days before the incident, boarding the same train as her and opting to sit near her during journeys.

He took the image under the girl’s clothing on April 27 last year.

Hunt, of Hera Close, Southend, admitted voyeurism during a previous court hearing in March.

Edmund Blackman, prosecuting, said: “There was a number of days when he was displaying worrying behaviour towards her.

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"He was getting on the train when she was travelling, leering at her and keeping her under his watch and would move to sit near her on the train.

“This was over a period of ten days or so and made her extremely worried and fearful about him.

"She complained to her teacher and mother and he was arrested at Southend Train Station where she had been getting on the train.

“He admitted taking the picture and told police in interview it was an accident.

"It was deleted and police could not recover it.”

Nick Bonehill, mitigating, told the court Hunt’s marriage had broken down after he was charged with voyeurism.

He said: “As a result of his behaviour he has lost his marriage and cannot move out of the house as they cannot afford it so he’s stuck in an awkward situation.

“He was facing a number of issues and has a young child and was drinking and found himself spiralling to a place he hadn’t been before.

“He’s gone back to work and has stopped drinking too.

"I am promised he will comply with any order the court makes.

"He also apologises for what he has done.”

Hunt was given a community order for two-and-a-half-years with 40 hours unpaid work and 50 days of rehabilitation activity requirement,.

He was also ordered to complete the horizon programme which aims to prevent men convicted of sexual offences from re-offending.

A restraining order was also made, meaning Hunt is not allowed to contact the victim in anyway.