Pervert performed indecent acts while asking for directions
APERVERT from Runcorn who used a ploy of asking for directions from girls and women before performing indecent acts in his car has been placed on the sex offenders register.
Adrian Joyce, 27, of Bold Street, Runcorn, claimed his depraved behaviour was a peculiar form of ‘stress relief’, Chester Crown Court heard at his sentencing hearing on Friday.
James Coutts, prosecuting, recounted how Joyce had repeatedly used the same ploy, pulling up in his Volkswagen Golf and asking for directions then committing indecent acts with his zip open or trousers round his thighs as his victims began to provide the information before fleeing in disgust once they realised what he was doing.
His first offence was committed in view of a teenage girl walking home from school at about 3.30pm on Wednesday, October 11 and the victim fled and reported the matter to her mother.
The next offence occurred the following day in front of two teenage girls the defendant had called over to ask for directions.
Police reported at the time that the two incidents had happened in different parts of Palacefields in Runcorn.
When Joyce struck again, he chose an adult victim on Halton Road at about 6.30pm on October 17, then again at 8.10pm on October 23 on Boston Avenue and then a fifth offence 15 minutes later on Latham Avenue.
Victims reported feeling ‘ disgusted’ and ‘ shocked’ by his actions, which Judge Simon Berkson said must have been ‘very upsetting’.
In one of the instances, he motioned downwards with his head and asked ‘do you like that?’
Police put an end to his sick activity on November 11 and he made ‘ various admissions’ but denied performing a sex act or trying to obtain sexual gratification, claiming it was ‘stress relief’, something Judge Simon Berkson said had ‘raised eyebrows around the court’.
He later pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent exposure and was remanded into custody.
Joyce had two previous convictions for five offences: three for battery, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.
The court heard he had spent two months in custody awaiting plea before being put on a tag awaiting sentencing.
Tom Watson, defending, said his client had ‘ accepted full responsibility’ and was not disputing the allegations.
Mr Watson said Joyce had lost contact with his child as a result of the offending and had to move out of his old address on Grangemoor. He said he was lucky to have his father’s support.
The judge said the loss of his normal home life was a ‘punishment’ in itself, adding that had Joyce not spent time in custody on remand he would be going to prison.
He sentenced Joyce to six months in prison, suspended for two years, with an 8pm-7am curfew, 200 hours unpaid work, and a place on the sex offenders register for the next seven years. ●