By Staff Reporter

Last updated 16:10, Tuesday, 07 October 2008

A CARLISLE man who indecently exposed himself in front of a mother and her two children has escaped being put on the Sex Offenders Register.

Judge Paul Batty QC told Geoffrey Dicker, 25, that he accepted his behaviour had been a sick attempt at a joke while he was drunk and not sexually motivated.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting at the city’s crown court, said the woman was walking along Blackwell Road on the afternoon of May 11 with her two daughters, one aged two and other eleven.

She glanced over the road and saw two men, including Dicker, a bottle of alcopop in his hand. He then pulled down his track-suit bottoms and exposed himself.

The woman was forced to push her children behind a car so they wouldn’t see. She later told police she was very upset by the incident.
In court, Dicker, of Charles Street, Carlisle, admitted twice intentionally exposing himself on the same day.

He told police he acted on the spur of the moment and meant nothing by it.

A probation officer who interviewed Dicker said: “He’s very ashamed of his actions and apologises to the court again. He understands how stupid he’s been. 

“It was purely in drink. It was not a sexual thing.”

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Batty QC told Dicker:  “I’m pleased to hear you’re thoroughly ashamed of yourself, and so you should be.” 

The judge imposed a community order with six months supervision, designed to tackle Dicker’s drinking; and a three-month weekend curfew running from 7am to 7pm.