Pervert exposed himself to terrified man then claimed it was 'banter'

A known pervert exposed himself to a terrified man and made lewd suggestions towards him.

Convicted paedophile James Crow did not know the man, Leeds Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Joel Wootten said Crow dropped his trousers before moving towards the man making sexual suggestions on February 25.

Crow was arrested and told officers it was a “bit of banter”, but during his interview gave largely no-comment answers.

The 29-year-old, of no fixed address, later admitted a charge of exposure.

He appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds where he has been held on remand since his arrest.

He has previous convictions for child-sex offences.

No mitigation was offered by his barrister after Judge Robin Mairs said he would not keep Crow locked up.

He gave him a 14-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, with 25 rehabilitation days to complete with probation.

He told Crow that the time spent in custody had “acted as a shock and lesson”.

Crow was put on the sex offender register for 10 years and given a 10-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO).