Flasher caught by policewoman who was off-duty

Apr 19 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

A FLASHER was caught on the spot – after exposing himself to an off-duty policewoman.

Geraint Clarke, 20, was loitering in a quiet street early in the morning when he jumped out in front of a passing lone woman.

Cardiff Crown Court heard he exposed himself to the woman, not realising she was an off-duty police officer, and was immediately arrested.

Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: “The policewoman was walking home at 7am after working a night shift.

“She saw Clarke loitering in the street, who had his hooded top pulled up to hide his face.

“As she walked past, Clarke jumped out in front of her and exposed himself.

“She arrested him but he claimed he had been caught short and wanted to use the toilet.”

Clarke denied exposing himself to the policewoman in Church Street, Bedwas, near Caerphilly, in May last year.

But he was found guilty of exposure, resisting arrest and possession of cannabis at a magistrates court.

Mr Bennett told the court just two months earlier, on Mothering Sunday last year, Clarke had exposed himself to an 18-year-old in the same area.

Hywel Hughes, defending, said Clarke had been going through a difficult time when he committed the offences.

He told the court Clarke’s girlfriend was pregnant and he had also been assaulted.

Mr Hughes said: “He was assaulted by a person who hasn’t been apprehended and his jaw was broken.

“The husband of the policewoman he exposed himself to had to investigate that matter on his behalf.”

Clarke, of Parcyfelin Street, Caerphilly, was given a three-year community order with supervision for the two counts of exposure.

He was ordered to attend a sex offender group work programme and was also given a conditional discharge for resisting arrest.

Judge Philip Richards told Clarke: “You really have to think very hard about your behaviour and the way other people see you.

“There’s no doubt you have a problem and the only person who can really address this is you. I’m giving you the chance.”

echo.newsdesk@mediawales.co.uk