Man jailed after masturbating in view of children

A man who lived next to a playground has been jailed after he was caught exposing himself and masturbating while looking at children on two separate occasions.

Andrew Lewis, 55, of Auckland Close in the Penmaen area of Oakdale, Caerphilly, was filmed by two children aged 11 and 12 on June 1, 2025, as he stood on raised decking in his back garden – which gave him a direct line of sight into a nearby play area close to his home.

At a sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court, Judge Carl Harrison told Lewis the footage “showed you masturbating while looking towards the play area” near Auckland Close.

The judge added: “You were masturbating in an elevated position where there was a gap with a direct view of the playground.”

Lewis struck again on the afternoon of July 23, 2025, when two 12-year-olds spotted him in his back garden. They reported that he exposed his penis and touched it while looking directly at them.

Judge Harrison said: “You intentionally exposed your penis for it to be seen,” before adding, “you were rubbing your exposed penis.”

Lewis was convicted following a trial in September 2025 of one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13 and one count of exposure.

He was sentenced to a total of 25 months in prison – made up of 20 months for the sexual activity charge and five months for the exposure charge. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.

Lewis was made the subject of both a notification requirement and a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO), each lasting 10 years.

Under the terms of the SHPO, Lewis must not remain in any household where a child under 16 is present, nor allow anyone under 16 into his home or premises unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. He must only wear “normal clothing” within his own garden and must not have any contact with children under 16 unless consent is obtained or it occurs “within regular occurrence in daily life.” Entering any play parks or play areas would also constitute a breach of the order.