THOMAS POWELL EXPOSES HIMSELF TO TEENAGE GIRLS IN ELLESMERE PORT: COURT SENTENCE

In a disturbing series of incidents that took place in Ellesmere Port, Thomas Powell, a 30-year-old man from Wilkinson Street, was found guilty of exposing himself to three teenage girls on two separate occasions in 2019. The case, which was heard at Chester Crown Court, concluded with Powell receiving a suspended prison sentence, alongside a community order and other restrictions aimed at preventing further offenses.

During the three-day trial, the jury unanimously determined that Powell had intentionally committed these acts, which involved exposing himself to vulnerable girls aged 16 or under. The victims included a 16-year-old girl and two 14-year-old girls, all of whom could not be named due to legal protections. It was established that the 16-year-old girl did not know the two younger victims, and vice versa, highlighting the randomness and troubling nature of Powell’s actions.

The first incident occurred in broad daylight in May 2019. The 16-year-old girl was pushing a relative’s baby in a pram along St Andrews Road when Powell approached her on his bicycle. Riding towards her, he then went behind her and made a disturbing comment, saying, “I think you might want to see this.” When she turned around, she saw Powell had exposed himself, with a “weird smirk” on his face. The girl responded with a dirty look, told him “no,” and moved away from him before promptly contacting the police to report the incident.

The second incident took place in the evening, approximately two months later. Two girls were on their way to a fast-food restaurant when they encountered Powell, who was again riding his bike. They had previously seen him pass by earlier that day, wearing a long coat with a fur-rimmed hood. Without warning, Powell approached the two girls from behind and exposed himself to both of them. One of the girls later expressed her disgust and confusion about why someone would target girls of their age in such a manner, describing her feelings as “disgusted.”

About an hour after this second incident, one of the girls entered the Ohri Convenience Store on Bunbury Green and was surprised to find Powell there with his bicycle. She immediately informed her friend, who was speaking to a woman in a takeaway shop about the earlier event. The three of them then entered the store together. CCTV footage captured the moment when the woman spoke to Powell, who then rode off on his bike. During court proceedings, Powell claimed that he was being threatened at the time, accused of “being a paedophile,” and that a group of “lads” was present, threatening to steal his bicycle. However, prosecutor Ryan Rothwell pointed out that CCTV footage showed no evidence of any such group being present either inside or outside the store.

When questioned further, Powell admitted that he had not contacted the police or told anyone about the threats or accusations, claiming there was “no point” since he maintained he had not committed any wrongdoing. All three girls positively identified Powell during an identification parade, noting his small stature—standing at 5 feet 1 inch—short hair, and the clothing he was wearing, including a long coat with a fur-trimmed hood, despite the summer evening.

On July 9, 2021, Powell appeared before Chester Crown Court for sentencing. Victim impact statements from the three girls detailed the profound effects these incidents had on their mental health and sense of safety. One girl described how she had seen someone resembling Powell in the street since the incidents and “froze in panic,” which worsened her existing anxiety and made her feel “vulnerable” and “on edge.” Another victim shared that she no longer felt comfortable going out alone and was constantly “on high alert,” especially after seeing Powell on more than one occasion in public. The third girl expressed her disgust and fear, stating, “What he did made me feel sick,” and that she now avoids the area where Powell was known to frequent.

Judge Berkson addressed the court, emphasizing that although such offenses are often short-lived, their psychological impact can be long-lasting. He noted that Powell showed no remorse during the trial and that he had no previous convictions for sexual offenses. While acknowledging Powell’s childhood difficulties and developmental issues, the judge expressed uncertainty about why Powell chose to offend in this manner, but also recognized the potential for rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, Powell received a six-month prison term, suspended for two years, and was ordered to complete a two-year community order, which includes 20 days of rehabilitation activities and 200 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, Powell was placed on the sex offenders register for seven years and was subject to a seven-year restraining order preventing him from contacting any of his victims in any way.