A MAN who masturbated in plain view from his flat window while turning the light off and on has been sentenced to prison following a Crown Court hearing.
Cardiff Crown Court heard that from July 24 to August 5, Terrence Kavanagh, 63, repeatedly masturbated at the window of his flat knowing passersby could see him.
Shortly after midnight on July 24, Kavanagh stripped naked and masturbated, while turning the lights on and off repeatedly and pulling his blinds up and down slowly.
One woman claimed she feared for her safety as a result of his behaviour.
The prosecutor, Jenny Yeo, informed the court that the defendant did this for an hour. He repeated his actions again on July 28 at approximately 9pm.
One of the women who saw him claimed she felt “anxious and uncomfortable” as a result of the incident.
The defendant was caught masturbating again on August 4, according to the court. Ms Yeo explained that a woman said Kavanagh was “looking directly at her.”
The defendant was visited by police the next day at his house on Whitchurch Road in Cardiff. Kavanagh apologised and said he “had been very silly”.
Kavanagh stated that he was aware that people may see him and that he had done it previously.
He told police that he is lonely and he wanted female attention. Ms Yeo said there was an element of “sexual fantasy” in his actions, but he admitted his actions were “selfish”.
The court was also informed that Kavanagh has 26 prior offences and 14 convictions, 12 of which were for sexual offences. Kavanagh is also banned from Bute Park for masturbating there.
Karl Williams, for Kavanagh, told the court that while he does have a conviction involving masturbating in front of an eight-year-old girl, he has never “chased anyone”.
He also explained that during the Bute Park incident, the only people who saw him were those who happened to be passing by.
Mr Williams said: “He was very cooperative and entered a guilty plea at the first opportunity,
“There has never been any contact with a male or female, he does it from a static position.”
Judge Richard Williams stated that despite participating in a number of psychological and behavioural programmes to change his behaviour, Kavanagh continues to offend.
The defendant’s crimes, according to Judge Williams, were “committed over a considerable period”.
Kavanagh has been sentenced to 20 months in prison. Judge Williams commented: “You told your probation officer that you like doing what you do and I have reason to think that you will continue doing so. Being observed masturbating is at the heart of your pleasure. Prison prevents you from committing the offences.”
Kavanagh will serve at least ten months in prison.
