Serial flasher banned from woodland areas

Police had received multiple reports of a man’s exposing himself in Meanwood Park before John Eckersley was finally arrested in March last year, Louise Pryke prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday.

On October 29, 2009 a woman out riding with a friend saw a male close to Tong Lane and was shocked when she realised he had undone his trousers and exposed himself.

She said he seemed excited by her shock, while she felt “violated” and no longer felt safe to go riding.

An off-duty police woman walking a dog in March the following year saw him near the same bridle path and then realised what he was doing. Another victim had started going to Meanwood to walk her dog after seeing him in Adel Woods but he then exposed himself to her there in October 2010 and March last year.

Miss Pryke said Eckersley was finally arrested after three teenage girls alerted police after they saw him masturbating near a play area that month. He was given supervision in 2002 for similar offences.

Eckersley, 37, of Shaftsbury Avenue, Leeds, admitted five offences of indecent exposure and was given 12 months in prison suspended for two years with supervision and a high-activity requirement covering the sex offender treatment programme to try and change his behaviour.

Barring him under a sexual offences prevention order from specified woodland areas and from sexual activity in public or private places visible to the public, Judge Christopher Batty told him what he did was disturbing for the victims.

“Your behaviour is utterly unacceptable,” he said.