Man avoids jail with community order after exposing himself to two women in public park

A man has avoided jail with a community order after he exposed himself to two women in a public park.

Robert Baird was in Jesmond Dene when he exposed himself to two women walking their dogs that day. One of the women Baird exposed himself to hurriedly left the area before calling the police.

Soon after, Baird then exposed himself again to another woman. But it wasn’t until around a month later that one of the women spotted him again in the same park, recognised him and decided to take photographs of him before notifying police. Baird was then arrested.

On Monday, Baird, of Horsham Grove, Meadow Well, North Tyneside, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court to be sentenced for exposure. The 53-year-old had pleaded guilty to the offence, which was committed on September 3, 2022.

The court heard the first woman was walking her dog through Jesmond Dene and saw Baird on a bicycle. Rachael Glover, prosecuting, said: “He turned round and headed out of sight. As she continued, she saw the defendant sitting on a park bench with his bicycle propped up.

“The defendant had his penis exposed. He didn’t say anything and had his arms by his side.”

The court heard the woman quickly left the scene and called the police.

Soon after, a second woman was walking her dogs through the park when she encountered Baird. Ms Glover said: “She saw the defendant sat on a bench. His hand was near his genitals. She believed he may have been masturbating.”

Four weeks later, one of the women was again in the park and spotted Baird. She decided to take photographs of him as he cycled past and then contacted the police. Baird was later arrested and identified from a police line up.

Ms Glover said Baird initially denied the offence, claiming he had urinated and forgotten to do his jeans back up. He had 22 previous convictions for 68 offences, mainly for theft.

Kate Barnes, defending, said Baird is “extremely sorry” but was “reluctant to accept what he’s done”. She said he had taken tablets and cannabis on the day.

Ms Barnes added: “He is able to keep out of trouble. There has been no repetition [of offending] since 2022.”

Sentencing Baird, Judge Gavin Doig said he is in “poor health” but now free of drugs. He said he accepts Baird is remorseful and handed him an 18-month community order.

He must also undertake up to 40 rehabilitation days and a mental health treatment requirement. He was also put on the sex offender’s register for five years.