PERTHSHIRE FLASHER EXPOSED HIMSELF TO WOMEN IN WOODS
Ionel Sara-Lates was found hiding in a bush with his trousers at his ankles along a popular dog walking route near Luncarty in Perthshire.He was seen exposing himself to three women on a remote woodland trail.
The first woman, walking with her 18-month-old niece, encountered him on May 11, 2021, and described how he was squatting in a bush without trousers or underwear, then stood up and went back down, apologizing and saying ‘I'm sorry’ when she noticed him.
A second woman, on her lunch break, saw Sara-Lates standing in a bush with just a top on and nothing beneath, and remarked that he asked her ‘Do you have an issue?’.
A third witness, a dog walker, saw him in ‘long john-style bottoms’ at around 2:30 pm.
On May 15, another woman saw him crouching and saw his face before fleeing, hearing him say ‘Oh s***.’ Sheriff Paul Brown found the witnesses credible and stated it was a strong circumstantial case.
Sara-Lates denied he was responsible but was subsequently found guilty of three counts of public indecency at Perth Sheriff Court.
Sentencing was deferred for background reports until May 3.
Police Scotland issued a plea for witnesses and dash-cam footage regarding a spate of similar incidents in the area in May 2021.
The suspect was described as wearing ‘tight sports leggings’ and driving a black pick-up truck with orange writing on the side.
