Man accused of exposing himself to young schoolgirl while standing outside her home
A 58-year-old man allegedly exposed himself to a young schoolgirl while standing outside her home in east Belfast, a court heard today.
Miroslav Majkic is accused of targeting the child when she was with two young friends on Monday evening.
The defendant, of no fixed abode, denies any intention to cause distress in actions he says were fuelled by a “desperate” need to urinate. He was remanded into custody on a charge of indecent exposure.
Police arrested Majkic after being alerted to the incident at around 6pm in a street just off the Beersbridge Road.
Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard that three girls, all aged 11, saw a man walking through the neighbourhood as they were looking out a window in one of the houses.
“They observed him look around and unzip his trousers at which point two of them ran into the kitchen,” a PSNI constable said. It was claimed the defendant exposed himself to the one that remained before she ran after the other two girls.
The child’s parents went outside and flagged down a police car to provide them with details of what happened. Based on their description Majkic was arrested in a nearby street.
During interviews he told police that he had desperately needed to go to the toilet. “He said he saw no-one about, and he didn’t do anything deliberately to cause anyone distress,” the officer disclosed. But opposing bail, she claimed he could abscond if released.
“It is quite disturbing that he has done this in front of very young girls,” the constable added.
Majkic, who refused legal representation for the hearing, insisted he had done nothing wrong.
He told the court that he has been in Northern Ireland for more than six months, spending previous periods living in the Republic of Ireland and Edinburgh.
However, District Judge Steven Keown rejected the accused’s suggestion that he could stay at a night shelter provided by a homeless service.
Bail was refused due to the risks of re-offending, flight and having no suitable address.
Remanding Majkic in custody until February 13, Mr Keown told him: “I am strongly advising you to get a lawyer.”