Man who exposed himself in library admits other offences

THIRTY-seven-year-old David Hewitt exposed himself to a member of staff at Littleport Library when he went into a small reference room to speak to her. And later the same day he went to the police and confessed to a catalogue of more than 20 previous simi

THIRTY-seven-year-old David Hewitt exposed himself to a member of staff at Littleport Library when he went into a small reference room to speak to her.

And later the same day he went to the police and confessed to a catalogue of more than 20 previous similar offences committed in the eastern area.

At Ely Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 37-year-old Hewitt, of Ryston Road, Denver, admitted three offences of indecent exposure, and asked for 20 further offences to be taken into consideration.

"He went into the library on December 19, he had been seen by staff in the library over previous weeks and they were familiar with him," said Emma Dmitriev, prosecuting.

"He went into a small reference room to speak to a member of staff, and during the course of the conversation she noticed he was masturbating and exposing himself to her."

The member of staff notified a colleague, and the police were called. Hewitt left the library, but returned to apologise, added Mrs Dmitriev.

Hewitt felt ashamed and told the police about previous offences because he wanted to make a clean break, said John Aspinall, mitigating. Some of the offences went back to 2004.

"This was a cry for help as much as anything else," he continued.

Magistrates ordered a report and banned Hewitt from Littleport until his sentencing on January 19.