Man jailed for exposing himself to child in Rhos-on-Sea

A Conwy man who exposed himself to a child on two separate occasions after asking her if she wanted money has been sentenced to 64 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Christopher Jepson, 33, from Maes Glas in Rhos-on-Sea, was convicted by a jury last October following a trial at Mold Crown Court. He had denied both charges of exposure relating to incidents in late 2023.

The court heard how Jepson approached the girl during the first incident and asked her to follow him. Prosecutor Catherine Elvin told the court he whispered to the victim: “Do you want a tenner?”

Ms Elvin said: “She did not know what he was on about.”

Jepson then lowered his trousers and exposed himself to the child. The same girl was targeted again later that month when he exposed himself a second time. She subsequently told an adult, leading to Jepson’s arrest.

During police interviews, Jepson denied the allegations. The court was told he claimed that during the second incident he had simply “brought a soft toy out from behind his back”.

Defence barrister Ryan Rothwell explained the offences involved no physical contact and were brief encounters “lasting seconds”. He told the court Jepson had lost his employment since the proceedings began and now relies on his mother for support, feeling unable to leave his house or claim Universal Credit. Mr Rothwell added that his client had suffered the loss of his grandmother, was socially isolated, and feared custody.

District Judge Gwyn Jones noted that Jepson appeared to have felt “emboldened” to commit the second offence after no initial complaint was made about the first incident. The judge said Jepson may have used “an element of coercion and manipulation” by offering £10.

Judge Jones sentenced Jepson to 32 weeks imprisonment for each offence, to run consecutively, but suspended both terms for 24 months. He must complete 100 hours of unpaid work, attend ten days of rehabilitation activity, and participate in 26 sessions of a building choices programme.

Jepson was also ordered to pay £350 in costs and a £187 surcharge. He will remain subject to sex offender notification requirements and the terms of a sexual harm prevention order, both for ten years.