KEIGHLEY GARDENER AVOIDS PRISON AFTER SERIES OF INDECENT EXPOSURES
A professional gardener and repeated flasher who exposed himself to multiple women and a delivery driver has escaped immediate imprisonment.Lee Gatenby, a 41-year-old, was described as 'begging for help' amid reports of ongoing indecent exposure over a span of two years.
During a court hearing at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday, it was revealed that Gatenby first exposed himself to his delivery driver twice in 2019.
According to prosecutor Christopher Bevan, the initial incident involved Gatenby standing at the door with his zip undone.
The second incident saw him open his dressing gown to reveal himself.
Mr Bevan explained: "A few weeks subsequent to the first incident, she delivered a parcel and was greeted by him in his dressing gown, inviting her inside for coffee.
She entered, and he made remarks about being with her within a year.
He then undid his dressing gown, exposing himself, which she described as him being entirely 'starkers'—completely naked." In 2021, Gatenby targeted another woman, hired by him as a gardener.
The court was told he visited her home to assess a job and, during their discussion, undid his zip and exposed himself.
The woman, from Ethel Street in Keighley, kept calm and initially chose not to report, believing he needed help, but later did after seeing images of him masturbating on his WhatsApp story.
She was described as shocked and disgusted.
In November 2022, Gatenby approached a different woman twice.
The first incident involved her scrolling through his phone and accidentally seeing a photo of his genitals before he exposed himself again.
She felt too awkward to report immediately.
The second incident involved him visiting her home to collect payment, where she turned away to her kitchen cupboards and then found him exposing himself once more.
She later felt relieved when he left, describing feeling shocked and vulnerable.
One woman even moved to a new address to avoid encountering Gatenby again.
In her victim impact statement, she recounted feelings of 'inadequacy' and questioning herself, asking, 'Have I got this wrong?' Mr Bevan detailed her account, including her statement about becoming 'deeply disturbed' and too frightened to socialize, with her loss of trust extending to others in general, prompting concern from her friends.
It was also revealed that Gatenby pled guilty to five counts of indecent exposure during his first court appearance at the Magistrates' Court.
He had previously served a two-year prison sentence in 2007 for similar offences.
During mitigation, solicitor James Holding emphasized Gatenby’s status as a self-employed gardener and noted that he made some unhelpful comments in a pre-sentence report interview but was seen to recognize the gravity of his actions and expressed remorse.
Gatenby was sentenced by Recorder Kelly to a community order lasting two years, which includes 50 sessions of rehabilitation activities and 225 hours of unpaid work.
He was also subject to a five-year restraining order that prevents him from contacting the victims directly or indirectly, and he is required to register as a sex offender for five years.
