A PERVERT has been jailed for two years for taking more than 1,000 covert pictures of women.

Andrew Mackie, aged 39, of Brick Street in Howley, was jailed for breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) when he appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on November 6.

The court heard the sex predator was spotted on board a train from Preston to Wigan by a plain clothes British Transport Police officer.

He was taken off the train at Wigan for a routine stop check and was found to be in possession of a camera phone – something the SOPO prevents him from carrying.

An examination of the phone revealed Mackie had taken more than 1,000 indiscreet images of women.

Sergeant Andy Tomkins, of BTP, said: “SOPOs are designed to protect the public and anyone who breaches the orders can expect to be put before the courts.

“Mackie used a camera phone to take pictures of unsuspecting women and in doing so not only breached his order, but violated his victim’s privacy – in most cases certainly without their knowledge.

“The two-year sentence should serve as a real warning to others that the police and the court service take a dim view of anyone who goes against the regulations of a SOPO.”