DARLINGTON MAN ADMITS TO PERFORMING SOLO SEX ACTS NEAR SCHOOL AND ACROSS NORTHERN CITIES
A man has confessed to performing solo sexual acts on himself while approaching a woman in his van outside a school in Darlington.Thomas Rees, who was engaged in a sexual act while driving, approached the woman as she was on her way to collect her children on January 17.
The 28-year-old resident of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, asked her if she would sleep with him before driving off in a white rental van.
The woman, quick to react, managed to photograph the van, capturing part of the license plate, which helped Darlington CID officers identify the driver.
On January 27, Rees was arrested at his residence and taken into custody for questioning.
A review of his phone revealed several videos stored in a secure folder, displaying him committing similar acts on at least nine other occasions.
These incidents occurred on High Heworth Lane in Gateshead, Wheldrake Road and Firth Park Road in Sheffield, and Berkeley Terrace, Bayswater Mount, Compton Avenue, Seaforth Avenue, Gledhow Road in Leeds during September and October.
Rees faces nine charges of indecent exposure and appeared before Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on January 28, where he pleaded guilty.
He has been remanded and is scheduled to return to court on February 18 for sentencing.
Detective Constable Daniela Jones from Darlington CID praised the woman's quick action: “Despite being distressed, she managed to photograph Rees’ van as he left the scene.
Her prompt response allowed us to arrest a dangerous sex offender and prevent further harm.
Our investigations show that Rees targeted women across northern England, notably in Gateshead, Leeds, and Sheffield.
We ask anyone who may have been a victim of his crimes to come forward.”
