Lameo!

Park flasher's plea fails

Nov 8 2006

A FLASHER who exposed himself to a woman in Crystal Palace Park has lost an appeal against his sentence.

As well as being given a six-month jail term at his trial, Christopher Richards was also placed under indefinite and heavy restrictions by a judge who dubbed him a threat to the public.

Richards, of College Green, Upper Nor-wood, was banned from visiting swimming pools and leisure centres except for adult-only classes and forbidden from working with children.

But in what was an important test case his lawyers argued his crime was not serious enough to justify the sex offences prevention order imposed alongside the jail term at Croydon Crown Court in February.

But at the Criminal Appeal Court on Friday, October 27, Sir Igor Judge ruled against Richards.

The appeal heard how a woman walking in Crystal Palace park on August 18 last year saw Richards sitting on the grass exposing himself..

Richards, 38, told police he had been "adjusting his clothing". He maintained his innocence and claimed the woman had been "mistaken".

At the trial he claimed he was not wearing underpants because of a medical condition.

Richards was also fined for burglary and theft in 1983 and in 1991 he was given a conditional discharge for indecent assault.

Then in 2003 he was cautioned for gross indecency with a child in a public baths.

Sir Igor said Richards denied any tendency to exhibitionist urges towards women and young girls.

Richards' legal team argued indefinite sex offences prevention orders should be reserved for sex offenders who pose a risk of "serious harm" to the public.

But Sir Igor said the trial judge had explained the need for such an order and there was no legal error in the approach he took