Apology offered by ‘flasher’
A Rolleston 21-year-old convicted of “flashing” two women in the street has been fined $1000 after being assessed as posing no risk to the community.
Patrick Frederick Walsh, a shop assistant who is working part time to pay for his living costs while he studies at university, was found guilty at a judge-alone trial of obscenely exposing his genitals in Rolleston Drive on December 13.
The women gave evidence at his Christchurch District Court trial, after he had pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel David Goldwater said Walsh now “accepts his position” and had asked him to apologise for his behaviour.
Judge Alistair Garland said it would have been better if he had apologised to the victims but Mr Goldwater pointed out he was not actually allowed to contact the victims.
Mr Goldwater pointed out that the pre-sentence report prepared by Probation recommended that a fine be imposed.
Judge Garland said the two women were walking home when they saw Walsh in the middle of the road, slapping his chest and trying to get their attention. When he got their attention he pulled down his pants, exposing his genitals.
“One of the women was moved to comment that you should come back when you had something bigger to show them. That was probably a pretty apt comment in the circumstances,” said the judge.
Walsh had since said that he committed the offence “for the thrill of it”, but claimed he had not been sexual aroused.
His parents had indicated they had no ongoing concerns about his behaviour and there was nothing in his background that caused any alarm. He was assessed as having a low risk of reoffending, and the probation report writer said there was no concern that any “therapeutic intervention” was needed. Walsh was not seen as a risk to the community.
Judge Garland imposed a $1000 fine which Walsh will have to pay at $40 a week.
In June, Walsh was acquitted at the end of another judge-alone trial on a charge of performing an indecent act in public at Rolleston. Mr Goldwater also appeared as defence counsel in that trial.
Category: News
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