A 31-YEAR-old Skipton man who exposed himself in front of a child and a police officer has been made the subject of a two year community order.

Craig Boyd was spotted by a woman walking in a wooded area off Otley Road in Skipton, at 8am on November 4 last year, Bradford Crown Court was told yesterday (Tuesday).

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye said he was performing a sex act on himself and looked directly at the woman, who shouted at him that she was going to call the police.

She entered a nearby shop to make the call.

Another woman, who had parked her car near to the same wooden area, saw Boyd still exposing himself as he walked along the road past the shops.

She had her 12-year-old daughter with her, and warned her not to look, said Miss Kaye, adding: “She shouted at the defendant to put it away as he was being indecent.”

The court heard how Boyd was believed to have been drunk and that his behaviour had been upsetting to the two women who encountered him.

When the police arrived, Boyd was found to be still exposing himself and was arrested, being verbally abusive to the officers all the way back to the station, Miss Kaye added.

Boyd, who had been of no fixed address, but has recently move into a flat at Keighley Road, Skipton, has previous convictions for 36 offences, though not for this type of offence.

Lorraine Harris, defending, said Boyd had been living a haphazard lifestyle and was still dealing with the bereavement of his father who died four years ago, making him effectively homeless.

“He fully accepts what he has done and said he really wishes to apologise to the victims here.”

She added: “He has acknowledged he needs help.”

He had been “struggling with his addictions” at the time and had been relying on friends for somewhere to stay, which had not helped matters, she continued.

In sentencing Boyd, the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, described the incident as “unpleasant and shocking”.

He made Boyd the subject of a two year community order with a requirement to take part in a sex offender treatment programme. He must also register as a sex offender for five years.

The Judge added: “This is a real opportunity - don’t breach the order.”