A man faces prison after exposing himself in the public toilets at the Intu Metrocentre in Gateshead.
Thomas Wilson, 24, of Stanley in County Durham, appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court and admitted a single charge of exposure. The charge relates to an incident that took place in the Intu Metrocentre's Blue Mall on 24th September 2018.
Exposure is an either way offence contrary to section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It carries a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment with conviction on indictment, or 26 weeks imprisonment on summary conviction.
A 16 year-old boy innocently using the adjacent toilet cubicle overheard and saw shadow movements on the floor that he interpreted as Wilson masturbating.
Any lingering doubts about the lewdness of Wilson's conduct were removed when he dropped onto his knees and pushed his erect penis underneath the divide. Wilson, a Sky employee, has previously accepted a caution on a similar matter.
The court heard that the 16 year-old had the presence of mind to take a photograph of Wilson's behaviour, before fleeing the toilets and screaming for his mother and the police.
Wilson's solicitor, Paul Hanratty, said: "The defendant didn't know the identity of the individual.
"He simply thought there was someone next door who was inviting that sort of behaviour.
"But he accepts he did expose himself behind a locked cubicle door."
Wilson was arrested by police when he returned to the Intu Metrocentre a week after the offence.
He sobbed as Magistrates ordered an all options report, warning that a custodial sentence was a real possibility.
Wilson will be sentenced at the same court on 20th February 2019.
Update (21/2/2019): Wilson has been sentenced.
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