MATTHEW FISHER'S SHOCKING INCIDENT IN DUKINFIELD INVOLVING CHILDREN AND POLICE

In a disturbing incident that unfolded in Dukinfield in April 2011, Matthew Fisher, a 38-year-old man with no fixed employment, became the subject of police attention after a series of alarming behaviors. The events began when Fisher approached two young girls who were playing on the street, causing concern among the children and their parents. According to reports presented to Tameside magistrates, Fisher was seen in a state of intoxication, having consumed wine prior to the incident.

Fisher had left his residence on Hope Street in Dukinfield on February 20, ostensibly to purchase more alcohol. During this outing, he stopped to urinate in the street, an act that was observed by the children. It was noted that Fisher had difficulty with his trousers, which he reportedly pushed down below his knees using both hands, although he claimed he could not remember exposing himself due to his alcohol consumption. The young girls, frightened by the encounter, fled and informed their parents about what had transpired.

Police officers responded swiftly to the reports and arrested Fisher at the scene. During the search following his arrest, officers discovered him carrying a roll of toilet paper and a torch. The prosecution, led by Mary Marsland, detailed how Fisher was positioned with one foot on the pavement and the other on the road, further indicating his inappropriate behavior. The incident was compounded by Fisher’s violent reaction at the police station; while being processed at Ashton under Lyne police station, he punched a police officer in the jaw.

It was also revealed during the court proceedings that Fisher had a prior history of similar offenses, having been prosecuted for two instances of exposure in 1999. This history contributed to the severity of the court’s judgment.

Fisher pleaded guilty to charges of exposure and assaulting a police officer. The court sentenced him to a 12-week prison term, which was suspended for 12 months. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next seven years and was subjected to an 18-week curfew, restricting his movement during nighttime hours. The judge, Stephen Guest, emphasized the seriousness of the offense, especially considering that the victims were children, which heightened the gravity of the exposure.

Fisher’s defense attorney, Chelsea Thomas, highlighted his mental health issues, noting that he had ceased taking prescribed medication several months prior to his arrest. She explained that Fisher had been experiencing relationship difficulties and was unemployed at the time. She acknowledged that Fisher had consumed a significant amount of alcohol that day and that his mental health medication had not been effective at that point. Despite his claims of not remembering pulling down his trousers, the court took into account his previous convictions and the description provided by witnesses, leading to his guilty plea. The sentencing reflected the court’s concern over the impact of his actions on the young victims and the community of Dukinfield.