EX-OAKWORTH MAN JAILED FOR EXPOSING HIMSELF OUTSIDE CARE HOMES
A man formerly from Oakworth has received a prison sentence after committing indecent acts outside care homes, dressed in women’s underwear and wearing a clown mask.Witnesses recounted how Paul Whittaker entered several care home premises, exposing himself to staff while dressed in bras, knickers, suspenders, and stockings.
During these encounters, he also used masks and a basque, sometimes covering his face with underwear to hide his identity.
During his appearance at Burnley Crown Court, which he attended via video link and represented himself, Whittaker claimed innocence, asserting, “I was framed and set up for this, there’s no indication of why I was arrested.” The first recorded offence was in Burnley on August 17, 2021, where witnesses saw Whittaker on a care home grounds wearing a white clown mask, a basque, pink budgerigar-style knickers, and stockings with suspenders.
The second offence took place on New Year’s Eve, 2021, in Brierfield, around 11:15 p.m., when he exposed himself while with knickers over his head.
He also committed four additional offences in Burnley.
CCTV footage linked to a Peugeot 206 helped police identify his address, and officers found women’s underwear and related clothing at his home in Berrington Way, Oakworth, which matched what was worn during the crimes.
After a trial at Burnley Crown Court, Whittaker, now without a fixed residence, was convicted of six counts of indecent exposure.
He has been in custody at HMP Preston since the previous May.
It was revealed that Whittaker has autism, diagnosed five years ago, and has prior convictions for similar offences, including theft of underwear from washing lines.
He maintained his innocence, claiming responsibility for none of the acts, and expressed interest in converting to Buddhism.
Whittaker requested a lengthy prison sentence to pursue a degree during his incarceration and is contemplating a move to Cumbria upon release.
Judge Sara Dodd commented, “This was offending against women working in care homes, working at night, sometimes alone.” The court sentenced Whittaker to three years' imprisonment, imposed an ongoing sexual harm prevention order banning him from care home grounds, and ordered him to remain on notification register for life.
