Clevedon flasher set to lose job at hospital

A hospital worker from Clevedon is set to lose his job after admitting exposing himself to a woman as she walked to work.

Timothy Clark, an operating theatre administrator who lives in Alexandra Road, was originally suspended from his job when charges were brought.

Initially, when questioned by police, he gave an excuse he later conceded was "complete and utter nonsense". 

And at Bristol Magistrates' Court on Thursday the married 35-year-old pleaded guilty to exposing himself at Lower Clifton Hill on April 5.

His solicitor James Langdon said Clark could only speculate that his behaviour was "misplaced thrill-seeking."

Mike Hartnell, prosecuting, said the witness was walking to work on Lower Clifton Hill towards Jacob's Wells Road. 

He said that as she approached some parked cars she looked inside, and noticed a man who was not wearing any trousers. 

Mr Hartnell said she could not see his face but noticed he was touching himself. 

Two days later she walked past again, looked inside, and again saw the man in the driving seat without trousers touching himself, Mr Hartnell told the court. 

This time the woman reported the incident.

"In interview he told a tale that he now accepts was complete and utter nonsense," said Mr Hartnell.

He added that Clark had no previous convictions.

Mr Langdon, defending, said he was disappointed the case was not dealt with by police caution.

"Mr Clark was very scared when he was interviewed," Mr Langdon said. "It is certainly not an easy offence to admit. In my submission it's entirely possible had he admitted it in interview he would have received a caution.

"His behaviour during the offence was not threatening, there was no intimidating behaviour and it was not aimed at anyone in particular. There is no evidence anyone else saw it."

Turning to the reasons for Clark committing the offence he said: "He is uncertain as to why he did this. He can only speculate it was misplaced thrill seeking.

"He can now see what he did was entirely inappropriate. He is extremely sorry and remorseful.

"He's currently suspended from work where he is an operating theatre administrator for a healthcare provider.

"He married his long-term girlfriend a couple of years ago and she's sticking by him.

"He's likely to lose his job as a result of this conviction and that's a serious consequence of what he's done and he'll have to find another job."

Magistrates gave Clark a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £85 costs.