A "DANGEROUS" Dudley pervert who took photographs up the skirts of young women he targeted on buses and trains has been jailed.

Robert Osbourne first took a photograph up the skirt of a young woman at Dudley bus station, who had noticed he had been wearing a dark jacket with distinctive embroidery and had tattoos on his fingers.

Simon Burch, prosecuting, said Osbourne's second victim was travelling on a train to Cradley Heath and he grabbed her thigh before leaving the train.

He then showed her a photograph he had taken up her skirt - something she had been completely unaware of.

Osbourne took a photo up the skirt of a third woman in a Birmingham block of flats and he was later identified from CCTV inside the building.

A further victim was photographed on a bus to Brierley Hill and the fifth was travelling on a train when she was targeted, said Mr Burch.

After his arrest police officers searched the home of Osbourne and found photographs on his computer that had been taken up the skirts of other women and a website address for perverts interested in looking up skirts.

The officers also recovered the distinctive jacket and saw Osbourne, who was a member of a biker club, had tattoos on his fingers.

The 41-year-old, of Ashenhurst Road, admitted four charges of sexual assault and another of common assault and he was further told he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Judge Michael Challinor jailed him for four years and also extended the licence on his release from custody by a further four years to protect the public.

"At the moment you are simply out of control when you are out in public with young women," he told Osbourne at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He added: "You need to be confined to prevent you from attacking other women and you will need close supervision on your release."

The judge said Osbourne had left his five victims "very frightened" and the psychological effect on them all had been significant.

"They were very frightened by your assaults, they are now wary about using public transport and they feel degraded by your photographing them," he continued.

He said the women had felt they were "effectively trapped" on their buses and trains by Osbourne, whose previous convictions included sexual assault and sexual activity with a child.

"In my judgement you remain dangerous," he said.

"For a very long time, 20 years or so, you have been targeting young women and girls for sexual attacks.

"You are persistent and bold in the way you approach your victims and you pose a risk that has to be dealt with."

John Evans, defending, told the court Osbourne needed treatment to protect the public from his behaviour.

"A concerted effort is needed by professionals to resolve his problems. He needs to break the cycle so women using public transport can be saved from his unwanted attentions."