BRYNMAWR MAN PLEADS GUILTY AFTER EXPOSING HIMSELF AND SHOUTING ABOUT HARMING CHILDREN
A man exposed his genitals in a street while shouting: "I like children and I'm going to rape children." The disturbing behaviour of Rhys Phillips in Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, was witnessed by the horrified occupants of passing cars and buses.heard the incident happened at 8.30am on October 13 near the Nature's Hand disability services centre in Alma Street.
Phillips, 22, had been receiving support from the centre for serious mental health issues, the court hearing was told.
Prosecutor Hywel Davies said: "This defendant was seen by staff at the support centre standing in the street and shouting: 'I'm a paedophile.
I like children and I'm going to rape children.' "While shouting these words his trousers were round his ankles and he exposed himself to members of the public driving past," Mr Davies added.
"Various cars and buses drove past." Police arrested Phillips at the scene.
It was the second time in three months that he had been arrested in the vicinity of Nature's Hand.
Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here On August 6, he had flown into an unprovoked rage while at the centre.
He began a series of assaults on staff by pushing support worker Grant West to the chest and pressing his forehead into Mr West's head.
He then used his forehead in a similar assault on another support worker, Jason Thomas, who moved away only to be followed by the defendant.
"The defendant lunged towards him, again using his forehead and pressing it into Jason Thomas' head," said the prosecutor.
"The defendant then turned towards another support worker, Jodie Lamkin, and spat in her face." Phillips, of Alexander Court in Blaina, pleaded guilty to exposure, a public order offence, and three counts of assault.
He had 19 previous convictions — including for violence, offensive weapons and dishonesty — and at the time of his latest offences he was under a community order for a racially aggravated assault.
Appearing for sentencing via a video link from Parc prison, the defendant hunched his shoulders and lowered his head.
His barrister Jeffrey Jones said a psychiatrist who had examined Phillips did not believe him to have a sexual interest in children.
Mr Jones told the court his client had made the comments about children because "they were remarks he knew people couldn't ignore".
"It was a form of attention-seeking," said Mr Jones.
"No-one was specifically approached by him with a view to causing them immediate alarm and distress by his being naked in the street.
"There is no suggestion he was in any way aroused.
He has no previous convictions for such behaviour." Phillips' mental health issues include ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and learning difficulties.
He has a reading age of 11 and has at times swallowed batteries and aftershave, according to his barrister.
"Care workers look after him on a 24-hour basis," said Mr Jones.
"He has two care workers with him all through the day.
"Mental ill health runs through all of these offences.
These are not offences committed by someone who drinks and then misbehaves, or who has taken medication in an illicit or excessive form." Phillips was sentenced to 12 months in jail, a 10-year sex harm prevention order and £187 victim services surcharge.
