A ‘perverted’ man who repeatedly exposed himself to women while performing sexual acts in the areas of Hedon, Hull and Hornsea has been sentenced at Hull Crown Court.
Mark Stuart, 28, of the Garth in Cottingham, was initially charged with eight counts of exposure and outraging public decency in connection with multiple reports in August and September 2023.
Humberside Police received several reports from women who had seen the same man, matching the same descriptions, exposing himself, hiding in bushes and performing sexual acts on himself in an attempt to intimidate the women, who were alone going about their daily business walking their dogs or jogging.
Following a CCTV appeal, Stuart was identified as being responsible for indecently exposing himself and further lines of inquiry also placed him in the area at the same time as the offences were reported to have taken place.
Stuart was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years. He was also handed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years, and ordered to be under a curfew for nine months with electronic monitoring and must comply with rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to pay £1,630 to the Crown Prosecution Service for wasting time and denying the offences.
In a victim impact statement that was read to the court on Monday, June 16, one of the women targeted by Stuart told how it had taken her nearly a year to regain her confidence, and that the experience had left her “riddled with anxiety” and too scared to return to her usual dog walk.
Another statement – from a woman who was targeted while walking her dog one morning in September 2023 in Elsie Gate, Hedon – told how the incident had “changed her perspective on what is safe”.
Leading the investigation was Detective Constable Aaron Aistrop, who said: “Stuart is a perverted individual who believed he could act for his own sexual gratification and face no repercussions.
“He denied the offences and has completely disregarded the impact his actions have had on the victims and the wider community.
“I would like to praise the women for coming forward and for the bravery and courage which they have shown over the course of the investigation.
“We take all reports of sexual offences extremely seriously, and we will continue to do all that we can to ensure offenders are brought before the courts.
“It is never the victim’s fault, and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual offences to please report it to us. When you are ready, we will listen to you, we will believe you and we will support you.”
Anyone who has any concerns or information about sexual offences should call the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.
Alternatively, information can be reported anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.