A SELF-confessed voyeur who used a mirror to peek up the skirts of women while they were Christmas shopping has been jailed for 16 weeks.

Barry Dyson, aged 39, of Lord Street, Horwich, was close to tears while being sentenced by district judge Jonathon Finestein, who told him his behaviour had been “insidious, disgraceful and a violation of the women”.

Manchester Magistrates Court heard how he hid the mirror in his rucksack while in the prestigious Harvey Nicholls department store in Manchester.

Prosecutor Tess Kenyon said Dyson was seen to crouch behind two women and use the mirror to look up their skirts.

On arrest the serial pervert said he had done this on five separate occasions while in several stores last November.

Dyson of Lord Street, Horwich, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency by placing a mirror up women’s skirts to view their buttocks and knickers and obtain sexual gratification.

The court heard that Dyson had been convicted of similar behaviour in 2009 and given a five-year anti-social behaviour order.

He was also hauled before the court about 10 years ago for identical crimes under the Public Order Act.

Defence lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland said Dyson had been sacked by his accountancy bosses as a result of his latest warped behaviour.

Dyson, it was said, confessed to police he had been “turned on” and targeted women aged between 20 and 40.

Mr Fitch-Holland claimed in the run up to his crimes a number of issues had left him “isolated and vulnerable”.

“He became isolated when a close colleague left and his interacting became restricted after a snooker team he played for folded," he said.

“He became depressed and succumbed to his previous predilections."

When the defence suggested that none of the women had been aware of Dyson’s antics the judge said: “This makes it all the more sinister. The intrusion is chilling for the victims.”

Mr Fitch-Holland said it had been a terrifying experience for his client. “He has been hounded out of a job and could lose his home.”

Passing sentence, the judge accepted that Dyson had personal problems in his life. “But that doesn’t excuse you resorting to this vile behaviour.

“It is totally unacceptable what you did and you have done it before. I hope this sentence will shock you”.

The judge slapped an indefinite criminal behaviour order on Dyson banning him from carrying any reflective items in public.

And he must surrender any equipment the police may request to inspect.

“If you breach this order you could go to jail for five years,” warned the judge.