Preston man spotted with pants around his ankles is jailed over lewd act

A convicted flasher has been back in court after admitting performing a lewd act in public.
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Damian Steele, 32, of no fixed abode, was spotted lying down in a small yard off Sykes Street in Preston with his trousers and underwear down to his ankles.

A shocked man who was passing the scene on January 8 this year, saw the defendant openly pleasuring himself.

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"Horrified and disgusted" by what he saw, the witness called the police, who attended and arrested Steele.

Preston Crown CourtPreston Crown Court
Preston Crown Court

In an interview Steele claimed that he hadn’t been performing a act on himself, but was sleeping, as he had "been there for two weeks".

But he later pleaded guilty to outraging public decency but was found not guilty of exposure on this occasion.

Preston Crown Court was told his previous convictions included exposing himself, for which he receuved a 12 month community order - which Judge David Potter said was an aggravating factor.

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Sentencing, the judge said: " You suffer mental health issues and have done for the majority of your adult life.

"Whilst the mental health difficulties are not your fault, the management of that condition is not assisted by you taking anti-psychotic drugs and abusing illegal drugs.

"The witness was 10 metres away when he saw you lying down with your trousers and underwear down to your ankles.

" Your activity was overlooked by the buildings nearby and to local residents.

"You were lying on quilts that could have covered you, but instead you were openly masturbating."