A FLASHER who exposed himself to children near schools in the Wrexham area later told police he believed it was educational for them.

Phillip Rowlands, 35, sometimes had a small child with him when he committed the offences, a court has heard.

One child bravely followed him to his home and was later able to tell police officers where he lived.

When arrested, Rowlands told police he was unable to control himself. He was scared of getting caught – but carried on and it got out of hand.

Rowlands, at the time of Glan Gors, Wrexham, admitted three charges of exposing his genitals in Price Charles Road and Borras Road in Wrexham in November,
January and February, and asked for six other incidents to be taken into consideration.

At Wrexham Magistrates Court sitting at Mold yesterday, he was remanded in custody pending sentence at Mold Crown Court next month.

Robert Blakemore, prosecuting, said that Rowlands, a man of previous good character, had exposed himself to children in Wrexham on a regular basis for the past few months.

On November 11, three girls were walking along a footpath near Rhosnesni School when Rowlands approached with a small child.

He exposed himself to one girl.

Later he turned around and approached all three holding his penis in his hand.
On January 13, in Borras Road, he walked towards two girls with a grin on his face, and he exposed himself to them.

It was in the morning and the victims told teachers what had occurred.
On February 18, two children saw him in the bushes where he was indulging in an indecent act.

A police officer went to his address and saw that Rowlands matched the description given and he was arrested.

In a police interview he admitted that he had exposed himself to children near schools “because he felt it was educational for them”.

He had exposed himself a number of times to children in the Wrexham area.

He did not know why he had done it, was aware it was wrong, but he could not control himself, he said.

John Gittins, defending, said Rowlands had no previous convictions, had co-operated with police and admitted what he had done at the earliest possible occasion.

Rowlands had no address to put forward and was not seeking bail.