Man in court on Ludlow indecent exposure charges
A man who denies exposing himself to women and children in Ludlow town centre has appeared in court.
Graham Carter, 50, pleaded not guilty to two counts of outraging public decency when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.
It is alleged that Carter, of Temple Meadow, Little Hereford, walked around the town centre exposing himself but with his private parts deliberately covered from view with an item of clothing.
He is then alleged to have walked close to a woman before removing the clothing between April and February 2013.
The second charge alleges that he repeated the same behaviour in front of women and children in August 2013.
Carter appeared at court on bail with conditions attached not to enter Ludlow town centre, not to be in a public place without trousers or shorts to cover his groin area and not to contact a witness.
Mr Paul Smith, defending, argued Carter should not be banned from going into the centre of Ludlow, as he lived in a rural area which is six miles from the town and would need to use the town's amenities.
Mr Smith said: "There's nothing geographical about these charges. If he's a flasher in Ludlow there's the same danger of him flashing in Leominster, but this is not the case."
Mr Smith also argued there did not need to be a condition in place to make his client cover his groin in a public place.
Judge Peter Barrie said: "I am going to delete the condition of bail by keeping your groin covered as that seems to me to deal with what would be an offence."
Judge Barrie upheld the condition not to enter Ludlow town centre but said an application could be made to vary it "if there are sensible reasons where you should enter the town centre".
Judge Barrie listed the case for trial on a date to be set.
