Burnley man who flashed at binmen given curfew (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley man who flashed at binmen given curfew

10:32pm Thursday 3rd May 2012 in Burnley By Wendy Barlow , Court reporter

BINMEN doing their rounds on a Burnley street were shocked to see a laughing flasher, a court was told.

Police were called because of three "drunk" men, who were said to have been aggressive towards the refuse collectors, shouting and to have been causing damage in the anti-social rumpus.

A female officer arrived to find Aaron Roberts had dropped his shorts in a front garden and he pulled them up as soon as he spotted her.

Roberts, 26, had made "a thrusting motion for all to see," after exposing himself, Burnley magistrates heard.

The hearing was told how a refuse supervisor was to tell police he had been " disgusted ," by what he had seen, as there were a lot of people around and children had been on the street on their way to school not long before.

Roberts, a young dad with a drink problem, ended up being struck with a baton and pava sprayed by police in the garden, but was so inebriated, it didn't seem to have much effect.

The defendant, of Reynolds Street, Burnley, admitted exposure and resisting police, on April 25. He was given a two month curfew, seven days a week, between 8pm and 8am and must pay £55 costs.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said it seemed Roberts had been acting stupidly and in drink and his actions were " not really to upset females."

The refuse collectors had been on Harold Avenue at about 9am and police were called because of the three men causing trouble.

Mrs Mann said the supervisor described how as they were waiting for officers to arrive, the defendant appeared in a garden, staggering about. He dropped his shorts and was laughing. The police officer described the defendant's behaviour as erratic and believed he might have been on something else as well as drunk.

Richard Taylor, for Roberts, said he had a partner and two year old child. He showed "very, very genuine remorse," for what happened.

The solicitor told the bench: "He appears before you a chastened young man, embarrassed and ashamed for what he has done.

"He is somebody who recognises he has a significant problem with alcohol and since this incident, he has self referred himself to Inspire."

Mr Taylor said Roberts had been at his friend's house and had gone out into the garden to urinate, but things went a stage further.

He continued: "Nobody under 18 witnessed this incident .As soon as police arrived on the scene, he pulled his pants up."

The solicitor added the defendant, who was on benefits, suffered from schizophrenia and was on medication, but had not been taking it at the time.

Mr Taylor added: "He recognises it's not the medication for schizophrenia that's causing the problem, it's the alcohol. This may be the wake-up call that he has needed."