Filey man jailed for six months for exposure and criminal damage offences

Joshua Lionel Richardson, 31, was found guilty of the offences and sentenced at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on Thursday October 19.

Richardson, now of Bridlington Road, Wold Newton, East Riding of Yorkshire, committed the crimes on Saturday July 30 2022.

At around 8.30pm, police were alerted about a man running along the aisle of the Northern Rail service from Hull to Scarborough exposing his private parts to passengers.

CCTV footage of the incident proved Richardson was the suspect.

He made off from the train in Filey and later that evening headed to local pubs - despite being subject to a lifetime ban through the Pub Watch scheme in both Filey and Hunmanby.

Richardson was denied service and asked to leave.

He responded by throwing a plant pot through a front window and a bottle through an upstairs bedroom window, narrowly missing a sleeping child.

The court ordered Richardson to pay £180 compensation for the criminal damage and £154 court costs.

Magistrates gave him a longer prison sentence for breaching a community order that was imposed for another exposure incident on November 20 2021 at Filey Sports Club.

In full view of members and close to children who were attending a birthday party in the function room, Richardson exposed himself on several occasions.

He was arrested and transported to Scarborough Police Station. When officers opened the van door to take him into custody, Richardson had removed all his clothes.

He was charged with exposure and placed on pre-trial bail conditions not to enter licensed premises. He also had to abide with a strict curfew that was monitored with an electronic tag.

Richardson blatantly breached these conditions.

He was arrested a further three times for attending pubs and for being near The Mayfield children's play area in Seamer on January 16 2022.

During the first two arrests, police had to carrying out lengthy negotiations with the defendant who refused to come out of his loft unless “social services" took care of his dog.

The request was denied but he was able to look after the pet after being released on bail.

Richardson was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Police Sergeant Adam Marshall, of the Filey Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Joshua Richardson has a history of drunken and aggressive behaviour which has continued to have a negative impact on residents.

“Alarmingly, the Sexual Harm Prevention Order has not quashed his behaviour.

“Not only were some children literally exposed to his disturbing actions when he removed his clothing at Filey Sports Club in November 2021, members of the public travelling on the train last year were also subjected to it.

“The damage he caused to the pubs was also shocking and could have resulted in serious injuries.

“This completely reckless criminal behaviour will not be tolerated by our policing team and our community partners.

“We will keep doing everything we can to ensure Filey remains a safe place for everyone."