Man convicted of flashing at schoolgirls

Robert Stones, 51, of Swallowtail Road, Horsham, denied exposure but was found guilty by a jury at Hove Trial Centre today (December 4).

The jury found him not guilty on two other counts of exposure.

Matthew Heywood, prosecuting, told the court that three separate incidents - said to have happened in Horsham in April, June, and August last year - had been reported to police.

All five witnesses were girls in their mid teens.

The court heard evidence from a friend and neighbour of Stones, who said he had been in Leeds at the time of the alleged incident in June.

She told the jury she had kept an eye on his home while he was away, drawing the curtains at night and making sure the house was secure.

The jury returned three unanimous verdicts, finding him not guilty of the alleged incidents in April and June, but guilty of the August incident.

Judge David Rennie released Stones on bail until January 14, when he is due to be sentenced.

He said he would not impose an immediate jail sentence, adding: “It’s clear that he has educational or learning disabilities.”

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