MAN EXPOSED HIS PENIS AND ABUSED JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
In a busy part of Norwich, a man caused concern by exposing his genitals and verbally abusing a group of women.On March 30, Graeme Donnelly, aged 39, told shoppers in Haymarket that he was about to urinate, after which he did so publicly.
When women from a Jehovah’s Witnesses stall challenged his conduct, he responded with a barrage of coarse language.
Prosecutor Nicola Lamb told the Norwich Magistrates’ Court that witnesses reported feeling alarmed when Donnelly announced his intention to urinate.
Despite appeals from bystanders to refrain, especially given the number of children nearby, he continued.
Witnesses also observed him exposing himself while urinating and making religiously aggravated remarks directed at the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
A statement from one of the women he abused, which was read in court, said: “He seemed to be very angry.
"He started hailing abuse at me saying God is nothing and lots of other obscenities relating to God.
“He was also shouting and swearing towards me.
I felt this was targeted towards our religion.
It was going on for quite a while and I felt harassed by him.
Members of the public had to intervene.” Donnelly, of no fixed abode but who has formerly lived in Cambridgeshire and Cumbria, pleaded guilty to outraging public decency and religiously aggravated harassment.
He was previously given a four week sentence suspended for 12 months for theft and four months imprisonment for shoplifting and public order offences.
Magistrates said they were “very concerned” about his offending and adjourned his sentencing until July 6 for further reports.
He remains subject to a two-year criminal behaviour order not to enter certain retail premises or to have an open container of alcohol in any public place.
Andrew Spence, mitigating, said: “Alcohol has become a continual problem for him, exacerbating personal problems and causing deterioration in his mental health.”
