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13
Jan 2023
A Knaresborough man has been jailed after admitting committing indecent exposure at Harrogate Library and on Kingsley Drive.
Billy Wood, 30, of Windsor Lane, was charged with committing the offences in summer last year.
He also pleaded guilty to using abusive words with intent to cause fear of violence and two counts of possessing cannabis.
Wood appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court to be sentenced yesterday.
Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, told the court the 30-year-old had been reported masturbating in front of staff in Harrogate Library on July 15, 2022.
The following month on August 11, a resident on Kingsley Drive saw a man wearing a white England football shirt across from his house in front of a neighbour’s property.
Reading the witness statement, Ms Tyrer said Wood had been sat on the garden wall and then walked across the driveway.
Wood then proceeded to masturbate in the street in front of the house, the court heard, and the resident called the police.
The witness said:
After arresting Wood, police said the woman was informed of the incident and that she was unaware of his actions.
The 30-year-old was also found to be in possession of cannabis when taken to custody at Harrogate Police Station.
Mr Wilson added a prison sentence would be “more of a crash to his system” by removing access to drugs, but would not give him the mental health support he needed.
However, Magistrate Ms Allan sentenced Wood to 32 weeks in prison for the public exposure offences and a six-week sentence to be served concurrently for the threatening of violence charge.
She told Wood the sentence was "for the protection of the public".
He was made to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £85 in court costs.
Wood was also ordered to sign onto the sex offenders’ register for five years upon release.
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