To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
16
Oct

A Harrogate man has been sentenced after exposing himself at a swimming pool.
David Hullah, 39, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (October 15) where he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Hullah, of Skipton Road, was due to stand trial on September 10 for a charge of exposing his genitals at the Harrogate leisure and wellbeing centre on Jennyfield Drive — but changed his plea to guilty on the day of trial.
Georgina Fishwick, prosecuting, said the offence took place in the changing rooms on January 21, 2025.
Ms Fishwick told the court that the two victims, who were aged 14 and 15 at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, saw Hullah stood in the changing area completely naked and staring at them.
She said:
The offence is significantly aggravated in that the victims were children.
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court that Hullah accepted that he was guilty of the offence and that he would be sentenced.
He added that the case was not as “straightforward” as the prosecution had put forward.
Mr Tinning said:
Mr Hullah was in a cubicle. It was just not closed and therefore he was visible to the young ladies and he did nothing to stop it. That is why he is guilty.
Mr Tinning added that Hullah had no previous convictions for similar offences and would now have to notify his employer of the conviction.
The defence added he did not want to be back before the court and that he had found it “difficult to come terms with” that he had committed the offence.
Mr Tinning said Hullah was “ashamed" and “embarrassed” to be before the magistrates.
Magistrates sentenced Hullah to an 18-month community order, which includes a prohibition requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work.
He was also given a five-year sexual harm prevention order.
Magistrates ordered him to pay court costs of £200 and a victims’ surcharge of £114.
0