Two men have been convicted of exposing themselves in public in two separate incidents in West Sussex.
Matthew Greenaway, 41, and Benjamin Anderson, 52, face sentencing for their offences.
It follows action by officers in West Sussex as part of the It Does Matter campaign to target offenders committing non-contact sexual offences.
Offences such as sexual harassment, voyeurism and exposure cause harm to victims and leave them feeling less safe in public places, and offenders committing these offences also present a risk of committing further offences as well as escalating into serious sexual offences.
Greenaway, of Clifton Road, Worthing, was arrested in June this year after a report of a disturbance in Chapel Road, Worthing. He exposed himself to PCSOs and attempted to assault officers.
He was convicted at Worthing Magistrates’ Court after a trial on August 20, where he was found guilty of using threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, exposure, and four counts of assaulting an officer in the execution of their duty.
Meanwhile Anderson, 52, of Canberra Place, Horsham, was arrested in May this year after he exposed himself in Fitzalan Road, Horsham to motorists including a man and a woman.
He admitted two counts of exposure when he appeared before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 13 August.
Speaking after the convictions, Detective Chief Inspector Kay Hutchings said: “We understand the distressing impact these offences have for victims, and these convictions show our determination to pursue offenders of non-contact sexual offences.
“Research shows that tackling these offences can help prevent offenders’ behaviour escalating to commit further offences. I would like to thank witnesses and victims for reporting information to us and sharing their experience, and I would continue to urge victims and witnesses to report these offences to us.”
Greenaway faces sentencing on 14 September. Anderson faces sentencing on 16 October.
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