A PERVERT banned from going within 100 metres of any schools after he took sneaky pictures of girls as young as 12 sobbed as he was given a community sentence.

Police found images of pupils aged between 12 and 15 going to and from school on Paul Foote’s mobile phone after he was arrested for filming shoppers at Birmingham’s Bullring.

The 29-year-old, from Church Road, Smethwick, previously admitted outraging public decency at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.

He was given a three-year community order with supervision and ordered to pay £145 costs at his sentencing hearing.

Foote, who was in a steady job and stable relationship, was also banned from going within 100 metres of any school or having a camera in public.

The photos of pupils were discovered after he was caught taking pictures up the skirts of shoppers.

The court was told previously that Bullring security guards became suspicious of Foote when they saw him taking a particular interest in two women shoppers on May 5.

Foote seemed to be holding and trying to conceal something by the side of his leg, which turned out to be a mobile phone.

When challenged and asked whether he had taken any pictures, Foote apologised for what he had done.

The phone was later examined and police discovered the defendant had taken “many” shots of women.

Jaz Sangha, prosecuting, said the females were unsuspecting and had never been identified.

When arrested, Foote said he was interested in women wearing high heels and skirts and had taken pictures of girls in school uniform as well.

Beha Hasan, defending, said Foote, who cried during sentencing, had a 2.1 degree from university, a steady job, was in a stable relationship and had shown regret for the “utterly shameful act.”

Mr Hasan said: “He accepts there are no other words he can express himself in term of remorse.”