A 52-year-old Catterick Garrison man has been placed on the sex offenders’ register after exposing his genitals to three women.
Ikham Pun exposed his genitals to three women in the village and the following day he followed three girls in the street, calling them “sexy ladies”, York magistrates heard.
Prosecutor Damian Walsh said that in the first incident at about 9.30pm on a summery July evening last year, two women were walking near Catterick Leisure Centre when their attention was drawn to a man who was “shouting abusive words” at an elderly woman.
The two women went to the elderly woman’s aid and were walking her away from the scene, but the former soldier followed them and started “pointing gun fingers” at them, before exposing his genitals and allegedly rubbing his private parts.
“The females walked away,” said Mr Walsh.
“This defendant followed and continued to expose his genitals at them, swinging his (private parts) around, intimidating these women.”
One of the women rang police and gave them a description of Pun who appeared to be drunk.
He was picked up by police in the street, taken home and a voluntary interview was arranged.
The following day, three young girls were walking past the leisure centre when Pun appeared and started “staring and licking his lips” at them.
He said hello to the girls and when they asked him what he was doing, he said he was “just mob watching”.
“The defendant continued to walk past the girls and called them ‘sexy ladies’, causing them to panic and scare them,’” said Mr Walsh.
“The girls turned around and noticed the defendant licking his lips and shaking his breasts at them.”
He said that Pun once again appeared to be drunk.
Police arrested him the following day and he was brought in for questioning in August. When asked if he had done the acts alleged, he replied: “I do not know because I was too drunk.”
Pun, a Nepalese national and former soldier, was charged with threatening behaviour in relation to the second incident involving the girls and charged with indecent exposure in relation to the incident involving the three women the day before.
He initially denied all matters, only to plead guilty to all offences on the day his trial was due to be held earlier this year.
Pun, of Rutland Close, Catterick Garrison, appeared for sentence on Thursday, April 16, aided by a Nepali interpreter.
In a statement read out by the prosecution, one of the women who went to the aid of the elderly woman in the first incident said she had been subjected to lewd, aggressive and “intimidating” behaviour from a complete stranger.
“The incident has left me feeling unsettled and since then I’m far more vigilant about my surroundings,” she added.
She described the incident as “distressing and deeply worrying”.
The other woman said the incident had left her feeling “anxious, vulnerable and on edge when I’m out in public”.
“I now find myself constantly aware of my surroundings and worry that something similar could happen again,” she added.
“Immediately after the incident I felt shocked and unsettled. Even though it was still light outside and there were people around, I felt unsafe and vulnerable. Since then, I’ve become anxious about going out alone.
“I used to feel confident and comfortable being out in public, but now I feel tense and uneasy, especially in the evenings.
“This anxiety has affected my day-to-day life and sense of independence as it has made me concerned for my safety.”
Pun’s defence solicitor Georgina Bradley said that the ex-soldier, a father-of-two, was otherwise of general good character.
She said his actions on those two days were thoroughly out of character.
He had served in the army for 20 years and now worked for Hitachi Rail, the Japanese transport firm.
“He is the breadwinner and supports his family with his earnings,” added Ms Bradley.
She said that due to his offences, Pun may now lose his job which “mortified” him.
Mr Campey JP, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, told Pun he had committed “serious” offences involving “unwanted sexual behaviour”.
He added, however, that Pun was “effectively of good character and this incident is clearly out of character for you”.
Pun was given a 12-month community order with up to 20 rehabilitation-activity days and an alcohol-abstinence programme under which he will be monitored by an electronic tag for 100 days.
He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years and made subject to a five-year sexual harm prevention order which prohibits him from engaging in sexual behaviour in a public place.
He was ordered to pay £400 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £114.
