Man vented anger by indecently exposing himself to women

Edgar Purvens, Beech Park, Portadown, was also given 160 hours community service last Wednesday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

At a previous hearing he pleaded guilty to intentionally exposing his genitals on August 15 and the case was adjourned so that a pre-sentence report could be obtained.

Last week’s court heard that police received a complaint about the defendant exposing himself to two females. When interviewed Purvens said he was annoyed at occupants of a house who, he thought, were looking through his window. He denied there was any sexual intention and expressed regret for his behaviour.

No details of what happened were read out in court but on reading a witness statement District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said it was not a simple indecency offence and there was quite significant exposure while the defendant made comments as well.

A solicitor representing the defendant said that once his client had sobered up he regretted the incident.

He explained that Purvens had been having difficulties in the area where he was living and his windows had been broken.

The solicitor added that on the day in question he thought neighbours were peering through his windows and he took his anger out on these two females.

He said that Purvens wanted to move back in with his partner and her children and had applied to the Housing Executive to get a move from the area which would be sooner rather than later.

Judge Bates said that having read the statement of one of the witnesses the incident was ‘somewhat unsavoury’ although the defendant had denied any sexual motivation.

But, he added, the nature of what actually occurred and the comments Purvens made certainly conveyed the impression to the victims that there was a sexualised motive.