Man who exposed himself outside Belfast city centre hotel avoids prison term
A man who exposed himself and performed a sexual act outside a Belfast hotel while staring in at a female staff member has avoided imprisonment.
Andrew Thompson, 34, was given an 18-month probation order for behaviour intended to cause alarm or distress to the victim.
A judge also directed that he must be put on the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years.
Thompson, of Pine Way in Belfast, admitted a charge of exposure over the incident on July 3 this year. He was arrested after police were called to the Clayton Hotel on Ormeau Avenue in the city centre.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard he had exposed his genitals to a member of staff the previous day. The woman was alone in the reception area when she spotted a man outside going past the windows of the hotel several times before coming to a stop at the front doors.
He placed his hand down his trousers and committed a sexual act, a Crown lawyer said.
When the woman lifted a radio to call for assistance he initially ran off across the road. But the prosecutor said after a couple of minutes he returned again and was still exposed.
The woman witnessed Thompson again outside the front of the hotel the next day. Police detained him after he was identified on CCTV footage from the scene.
A defence barrister described him as “incredibly ashamed” but with limited recollection or explanation for his actions.
“Nothwithstanding that, he seems to have a very clear insight about how much harm and fear he may have caused the victim of this incident,” she said.
The court heard Thompson has struggled with addiction and mental health issues.
According to his counsel, he had prepared himself for a possible prison term. “He is taking this matter very seriously and brought belongings with him today; he is under no illusions about the potential sentencing outcomes,” the barrister added.
Instead, however, District Judge Anne Marshall imposed 18 months probation with additional requirements to participate in any drug or counselling work.
She also confirmed: “He will be subject to the requirements of the sex offenders’ register for a period of five years. I consider that to be proportionate and necessary.”