News

Man found guilty of flashing at teenage girls

By Stephen Lloyd
November 14, 2012

A MAN has been convicted of flashing at teenage girls in Yateley.

Lewis John Keeble, of Robins Close, Ash Vale, was found guilty of six charges on Tuesday (November 13) following a five-day trial at Winchester Crown Court.

He had denied two counts of sexual assault through clothing and four counts of indecent exposure, but a jury of seven men and five women returned unanimous guilty verdicts.

Keeble is due to be sentenced on December 11 at the same court.

Jurors heard that the 34-year-old, a former employee of Sims Metal Management in Vigo Lane, Yateley, showed girls his genitals, touched himself in front of them and grabbed the breasts of two female victims.

The incidents took place between October 26, 2010 and May 25 last year in Yateley and Blackwater.

Prosecutor Rob Welling told the court Keeble had a "secret life" he hid from his partner and parents.

He said that when the opportunity arose and the urge overcame him, Keeble would get his "sexual thrills" and cause alarm and distress by exposing himself.

Katherine Kelleher, defending Keeble, claimed he was the victim of mistaken identity, pointing out that another man was sufficiently identified to be remanded in custody and charged with the offences at one point in the police investigation.

"An honest witness can be a mistaken witness," she added. "There were other incidents and other people."

For more on this story, see this week's News & Mail, out on Friday, November 16.