Man who exposed himself to 17-year-old female shop assistant handed suspended sentence

A man exposed himself to a 17-year-old female shop assistant and then returned a week later to the same shop in Derry's Foyleside and exposed himself again to staff, Derry Magistrate's Court heard today.

Somkenechi Ownu (21) of Lower Nassau Street in Derry admitted two charges of exposure on February 18 and February 25 in the H&M store in Foyleside.

The court heard that Ownu entered the store on February 18 and said he wanted to try on a pair of boxers and while asking he exposed his penis to the 17-year-old female assistant.

The injured party found the incident 'repulsive' and was upset.

A week later on February 25 the defendant entered the store again at 2.25pm. 

He went to the fitting room and had left the curtain half open which the manager believed was deliberate. 

He was recognised as the same man and as the manager approached the fitting room Ownu pulled the curtain open completely exposing himself and security was called. 

Deputy District Judge Brian Archer said he had no doubt Ownu had returned to the store hoping the 17-year-old old would be there.

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said that his client accepted that the aggravating feature was the age of one of the victims. 

He said that neither victim 'deserved to be treated like that.'

The barrister said that Ownu had grown up in Nigeria and had been here since he was aged 18 and was in his final year of a university course. 

He described the two incidents as 'a week of stupidity' that would impact on the defendant's life.

Judge Archer said that the behaviour was 'deplorable' and that a report made clear that it was purely for sexual gratification.

He said that the defendant was 21-years-old and now had a sexual offence conviction that would 'affect you for the rest of your life.'

Ownu was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for two years and ordered to sign the Sex Offender's Register for seven years.