Former Premier League Footballer Convicted of Exposure

A former Premier League footballer has been convicted of exposure after being observed masturbating in public.

Neil Jason Shipperley, 45, of West Drayton, London, admitted one charge of exposure when he appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 18th December 2019.

Exposure is an offence under section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. A person is guilty of exposure if they deliberately expose their genitals, with the intention of another person seeing them and being caused alarm or distress thereby.

The maximum penalty for exposure is 6 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction; 2 years' custody on conviction on indictment.

Magistrates heard that Shipperley was driving a van along Station Road in Hayes on 17th September 2019.

He pulled up alongside a mother and her 16-year-old daughter, who believed he was slowing down to allow them to cross the road. The mother turned towards the open window of the van to thank Shipperley. It was at that stage both mother and daughter noticed that Shipperley had his penis in his hand and was masturbating.

Realising what had just happened, the mother and daughter swiftly started to walk away. Shipperley began to follow them in his van.

Prosecutor Shaan Sethi told the court: "He continued to stare at the two women this time while masturbating," adding that the pair tried to take a photo of his number plate.

"While the mother was on the phone to the police... they saw the defendant had parked himself between two buses further down the street, again staring at the two while masturbating."

In a victim impact statement the mother said: "Some people may see flashers as pests or a nuisance to society, my view of Neil Shipperley is as a predator.

"His aim was to intimidate us, to violate us, to shock us and to scare us."

She added: "My 16-year-old daughter was horrified and kept asking me 'mum what would have happened if I was on my own and you weren't with me'."

Sarah O'Kane, mitigating, said: "He has expressed anguish, embarrassment, shame, but above all remorse."

"He is in short appalled by his actions and he wishes to apologise unreservedly to the complaint in this case."

Ms O'Kane told the court that the former Chelsea striker had been battling a string of personal and financial problems, which came to the "crescendo" on the day of the offence. He had been undergoing counselling sessions in an attempt to address his recent difficulties.

Sheila Evans, Presiding Justice, told Shipperley: "We do find that it would be proper to place it into a community order level rather than a custodial order.

"However, we would have been perfectly within our right if there were other factors that gave us concern to give you a custodial sentence."

Shipperley was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 120 hours unpaid work and 20 days rehabilitation activity requirement.

He was ordered to pay £200 compensation, £90 victim surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.

Additionally, he was made subject to a five-year sexual offences notification requirement order and must report to Hayes police station within three days.