Man banned from areas of Stroud after exposing himself

Simon Clifford Jones, 42, from Nailsworth admitted to the offences

Author: Ashton KirbyPublished 2nd Jun 2023
Last updated 2nd Jun 2023

A man has been banned from areas in Stroud after exposing himself in public and intimidating women in the town.

After Simon Clifford Jones, 42, from Nailsworth, admitted to the offence, he was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Appearing at Cheltenham Magistrates' court last month, Jones admitted to two public order offences and outraging public decency.

The incidents took place on 17 July 2022, when a women was walking along the canal path near to Dr Newton's Way when she saw Jones stood behind a bush along the path.

Jones that shouted at her, saying that he wanted to ejaculate in her underwater.

Four days later (21 July) another women was walking down the cycle path near Selsley Hill in Dudbridge. During her journey, she saw Jones coming towards her, before he shouted at her, making similar sexual comments.

The woman sought refuge in a nearby supermarket and called the police.

Jones was sentenced to a community order with a requirement to work 105 hours unpaid work, to participate in rehabilitation activity, to pay £114 to fund victim services and to pay costs of £165 to the Crown Prosecution Service.

On Tuesday 23 May, Jones appeared in court again, pleading guilty to one count of outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner.

The incident happened on the 5 February this year on a public footpath when two people saw a man with his trousers around by his knees exposing himself in an indecent manner.

DC Jon Furse, from the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team, says, "Jones' actions and comments were frightening for the victims, and his behaviour is completely unacceptable.

"We sought a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) earlier this year, as the residents of Stroud should be able to freely walk wherever they want without fear they will be subjected to vile language and intimidating behaviour.

"The SHPO specifically prohibits Jones from going to the canal path adjacent to Dr Newton's Way, the cycle path adjacent to Selsley Hill, and Woodchester Park.

"It also prohibits Jones from exposing his genitals in public for any reason, including to urinate.

"This order allows us to take quick and robust action. Anyone who witnesses a breach is asked to call police immediately by dialling 999."

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