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21
Sept
Harrogate man admits exposing his penis in public while drunk
A Harrogate man has admitted to exposing his penis in public.
Benjamin Steel, of Burns Way, pleaded guilty to one offence of outraging public decency during a hearing at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (September 19).
Matthew Rose, prosecuting, told the court a number of people heard Steel shouting in the street on March 28 this year.
Several witnesses who saw Steel at the time said he was leaning against a lamppost with his penis exposed.
The witnesses could tell Steel was "very, very drunk", with one even noting he "looked like he was pole dancing".
The court heard a group of children believed to be between the ages of eight and 14 were standing near Steel at the time.
They were “laughing” at Steel and “sticking their fingers up at him”, Mr Rose said.
“They seemed to be enjoying goading him”, he added.
Steel then told the group of children: “come on then”, magistrates heard.
Mr Rose told the court there did not appear to be any intention to alarm passersby and believed Steel did not expose his penis for sexual gratification.
He said:
It seems to have been done because he was so drunk.
Defendant was ‘on a bender’ at the time
Sean Wilson, defending, told the court Steel wanted to apologise for his actions on the day of the offence.
The court heard Steel has struggled with substance misuse for many years, including alcohol and heroin.
Steel is now attending appointments with North Yorkshire Horizons – a council-owned addiction recovery service – and is taking methadone to address his drug addiction.
Mr Wilson said Steel, 36, also has a “part-diagnosis” of psychosis.
Due to his long-standing substance abuse, doctors have been unable to determine if the psychosis is due to borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia, so the diagnosis remains unspecified, Mr Wilson added.
However, at the time of the offence, Steel was not taking any medication for his mental health, nor was he on methadone or seeking support for his addictions.
Mr Wilson told the magistrates the offence occurred “as a result of him going on a bender” and that Steel remembered very little of the incident.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Steel will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court on November 21.
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