A window cleaner left a woman ‘terrified’ after exposing his genitals and touching himself.
Frederick Lowe, of Barrow Close, Royal Wootton Bassett, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent exposure at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Monday, 3 October).
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said the 31-year-old carried out the disgusting act in Preston Lane, Lyneham, in broad daylight – at 12.40pm – on 19 May this year.
The victim parked up in a lay-by before tucking into her lunch. However, a van pulled into the same lay-by and the driver, Lowe, approached her.
He asked if she would be offended if he went into the field and relieved himself – explaining that he was a window cleaner working in the area and has no access to a toilet.
She told him she had no issue with this. Lowe returned from the field and sat in his van before striking up a conversation with the woman.
During the chat, the defendant mentioned going to a nudist beach before making comments about exposing himself. She told him she wouldn’t like that and started to drive away.
Lowe proceeded to pull his trousers down as the victim was turning her car around, before masturbating whilst staring directly at her.
Handing down a three-year community order, District Judge Joanna Dickens said: This was quite a serious offence, the woman was on her own in an isolated area.
“You know you weren’t going do anything to her, but she doesn’t know that. She’s going to have been absolutely terrified.
“It’s quite a bizarre offence – it doesn’t seem to have any background to it but it would have been absolutely frightening for her.”
Lowe was ordered to carry out a 31-day Horizon sex offender programme and register as a sex offender for five years. He must pay £200 costs and a £95 surcharge.
