A FLASHER apprehended after a quick-thinking schoolgirl snapped his registration plate with her mobile phone has been jailed for five months.

Married Ian David Arthurs, who runs a window cleaning business with his wife, made a lurid sexual comment while exposing himself to a 15-year-old girl.

The 36-year-old father-of-two admitted inciting a child to commit a sexual activity and indecent exposure. The offence happened in an area with four schools.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Arthurs shouted "Oi! Sexy" towards the girl and her friend as they walked in Winton, Bournemouth, in July last year.

Paul Hester, prosecuting, said the girls continued walking when Arthurs stopped the van in the middle of the road and asked the girls how old they were. They replied 15.

Mr Hester said both girls were "understandably worried", so one took a picture on her mobile phone.

A short time later, Arthurs pulled up in his van. Mr Hester said one of the girls noticed the door to the van was slightly ajar and she saw Arthurs expose himself and make a lurid sexual comment.

When being questioned, Arthurs, who runs Arthurs Window Cleaning from his home in Poole Lane, Bournemouth, agreed it was his van in the picture and he had shouted at the girls but said it was nothing more than "banter and a joke". He denied making any lurid comments towards them.

Hamish Dunlop, mitigating, said his happily-married client was "in denial".

Judge John Harrow sentenced Arthurs to five months for inciting a child to commit a sexual activity and two months to run concurrently for the second offence.

He said Arthurs would have to go on a sex offenders course and disqualified him from working and living with anyone under the age of 18, without permission, indefinitely.

Arthurs was also placed on the sexual offenders register for seven years.

Judge Harrow said: "I accept this behaviour is out of character but there are sinister aspects which cause concern. In my view, you had no legitimate reason to be where you were, in the vicinity of several schools, at that time."

First published: August 19