Man cleared of exposing himself

A Canterbury architect has been cleared of exposing himself in city centre shops – after the prosecution dropped the case.

Gareth Leggeat, 40, was due to stand trial at Canterbury Crown Court this week after pleading not guilty to four charges of exposure.

Leggeat, of The Forstal, Wye, had been arrested after complaints from staff at Wilkinsons, M&S and Poundland in August and September 2013.

It was alleged that on three days he went into the stores, picked up items, and exposed himself to women working at cash tills.

But minutes before the hearing was due to start, prosecutor Ian Foinette was forced to withdraw from the case because of professional reasons.

Then, as another barrister was being briefed, problems arose over witnesses being able to attend court on Tuesday.

Finally, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided to offer no evidence and Leggeat, who had always denied the offences, was formally found not guilty by Deputy Circuit Judge Simon Wilkinson.

A CPS spokesperson said: “Two trials were previously scheduled in March and November 2015.

“These trials did not take place and on both occasions the CPS was ready to proceed with the trial and the witnesses attended for trial. The case could not proceed as planned on March 21 and, having taken into account the views of the witnesses in the case, we took the decision to offer no evidence.”