A man with a long criminal history, who says he just can’t help himself, was arrested twice in one day for masturbating in front of horses.
HullLive reports that 61-year-old Malcolm Downes, of Hull, England, was spotted by a witness on February 18, standing by a horse in a field in Bransholme with his penis exposed. Downes, who has a lengthy criminal record of indecent exposure and masturbating in front of horses, claimed he was urinating. According to Prosecutor Neil Coxon, “it soon became clear that Downes was masturbating.”
“This activity went on for three or four minutes. His penis was exposed for about 10 minutes,” Coxon said at the Hull Crown Court on Monday.
Downes was arrested for performing public sex accounts, but within 24 hours of posting bail, he was caught again in the same field, this time by an off-duty police officer. When questioned, the suspect said he didn’t want to draw attention himself, yet at the same time couldn’t control his urges.
“I was sat on a bench. I was feeling sexy so I started to…,” Downes reportedly told police, according to Metro.
Hull Crown Court heard how Malcolm Downes, 61, is "unable or unwilling" to stop himself performing sex acts in public… https://t.co/IvsX1HiSrT
— Police Alerts UK (@PoliceAlertsUk) April 9, 2019
Court records indicate that Downes has a long history of indecent exposure and public masturbation. The majority of the incidents took place near horses. During the 1970s and 1980s, the man was arrested numerous times for indecent exposure, according to the outlet.
In 2007, Downes was convicted again of indecent exposure followed by a 2013 conviction of masturbating by a horse, after a woman walking by with her dog spotted him and contacted police.
In May 2016, Downes was back in court for masturbating twice in front of horses in an Orchard Park field. The owners of the horses reportedly told police that Downes pleasured himself in front of a black stallion.
“[The horse owners] both knew of him and knew he was prohibited from being in a field with horses,” a prosecutor said at the time. “As they saw him he made off across the fields.”
The following month, the man once again decided to masturbate in front of horses. He denied the claim but a nearby resident reportedly took a photo and sent it to authorities.
Following the latest incident, Judge David Tremberg, who said Downe’s behavior was “totally disgusting,” sentenced him to eight months in jail.
“You know you are doing wrong but you appear either unable or unwilling to stop yourself.”
[Feature Photo: Malcolm Downes/Police Handout]
