LEE WILLIAMS – RUNCORN

Runcorn flasher given suspended jail term after park incident

A man who exposed himself in a children’s play area has avoided immediate custody but must comply with a string of strict supervision orders.

On 19 September 2024, Lee Williams, 40, was seen intentionally exposing his genitals in Town Hall Park. The offence was committed while youngsters were present, causing alarm and distress.

When officers arrested him they discovered he had also breached existing sex-offender-register rules by failing to register a Monzo bank card and e-mail address with Cheshire Police.

Appearing for sentence at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on 11 February 2025, Williams admitted exposure and failing to comply with notification requirements.

Deputy District Judge Mary Dowrick said the offences crossed the custody threshold and highlighted Williams’s “flagrant disregard for court orders,” noting his previous conviction for a similar sexual offence. However, a Probation Service report found a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation,” allowing the court to suspend the jail term.

Sentence

* 20 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years
* 26 days on the Building Choices behaviour-change programme
* 35 rehabilitation-activity days
* 12-month mental-health treatment requirement
* Must sign the sex-offender register for seven years
* Court costs £400 and victim surcharge £154 (to be deducted from benefits)

Judge Dowrick warned that any breach of the requirements would activate the custodial sentence.