Man performed campsite sex act and told women they should be used to it as they 'came from Liverpool'
A man performed a sex act in front of three women at a Gwynedd campsite. When they challenged him he claimed they should be used to it as "they came from Liverpool".
Paul Loughlin, 56, admitted a charge of exposure. A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court said any prison sentence would be short so gave him a community order with conditions for his rehabilitation.
Prosecutor Matthew Dunford said the defendant had been in a tent next to three women at the campsite in the Bangor area in September 2023. He had been speaking to the women, who were in their twenties. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
READ MORE: Tragic death of woman, 20, who suffered from 'severe migraines'
READ MORE: Smell of cannabis coming from car was so strong police pulled driver over
The defendant was sitting in a camping chair outside his tent at 10.15pm that evening. "It appears he was inappropriately friendly," said Mr Dunford.
Then they saw his trousers were pulled down and he was performing a sex act for about 60 seconds as he was talking to them, the court heard. Mr Dunford said one of the women asked another woman: "Is he doing what I think he's doing?" and she replied Yes.
The first woman, who cannot be named to protect her anonymity, challenged Loughlin, of Presto Gardens, Bolton, and went to get the site manager. Loughlin went into his tent and came out wearing shorts.
The site manager arrived at the scene, with Loughlin now drinking from a can of beer. Mr Dunford said Loughlin then said: "The women should be used to seeing indecent things coming from Liverpool."
His speech sounded slurred and he threatened to "punch (the site manager's) lights out". Police were called and the defendant was arrested.
He denied the exposure offence, saying he could not have committed it on medical grounds. In a statement one woman said she was shocked at the incident and she replays it in her mind.
Her mental health has suffered and she won't go camping again. Ember Wong, defending, said of Loughlin: "He recognises it would have been an extremely upsetting and distressing incident for those women."
She said in 2018 the defendant's marriage broke down and he lost his job. A pre-sentence report shows his mental health is "extremely fragile" although that "does not excuse the offence nor the seriousness of it."
But there is another side to him as he is a "caring and devoted" son to his 80-year-old mother. The judge His Honour Timothy Petts told Loughlin he had performed a sex act for about a minute and made derogatory remarks about people from Liverpool which further upset his victims.
He also threatened the campsite manager. Loughlin's defending might be seen as low level but it had serious consequences for his victims.
Nevertheless he is remorseful and has not offended recently. The pre-sentence report suggests it might be worthwhile exploring the triggers for his offending so it doesn't happen again.
The judge gave Loughlin an 18-month community order with conditions to do 20 days of rehabilitation activity and wear an electronic tag during a 7pm to 7am curfew for four-months.
If he fails to comply with these conditions he may be brought back before the courts and sent to prison, added the judge.
Find crime figures for your area