XIN ZHANG SHOCKS SALFORD: MAN EXPOSES HIMSELF IN UNIVERSITY SAUNA AND STARES THROUGH GLASS WINDOW

A 60-year-old man named Xin Zhang has been handed a 12-month community order by Manchester Magistrates' Court after admitting to a serious breach of public decency at a leisure centre in Salford. The incident, which took place at the Tom Husband Leisure Centre located at the University of Salford, involved Zhang engaging in inappropriate and sexually explicit behavior in a public facility, causing distress to a female visitor.

According to court reports, Xin Zhang was a regular visitor to the leisure centre, attending up to six times a week. Witnesses and staff observed that he became visibly aroused while swimming in the pool, reportedly due to the sensation of the jets of water. Following this, he proceeded to the sauna, where the misconduct occurred. It was during this time that Zhang was seen with his shorts pulled down below his knees, rubbing his backside on a bench and touching himself in a manner that was clearly sexual in nature. He was also observed staring through a glass window at a woman who was using the facilities.

The victim, a woman using the sauna at the time, described the incident as lasting approximately three to four minutes. She recounted seeing Zhang pull his pants down just below the knee and then grabbing his genitals. Her account detailed her shock and alarm as she watched him stand up, look directly at her, and continue to manipulate himself. She vividly recalled, “He stood up. He was looking at me. He pulled his pants down just below the knee. He grabbed his penis and I could see his hands – they were going up and down. I thought ‘oh my God’.”

The situation was eventually interrupted by staff members, who promptly banned Zhang from the leisure centre and contacted the police. During police interviews, Zhang attempted to justify his actions by claiming that he referred to his genitals as “my chicken” and insisted that his behavior was not sexual but rather a response to the cold weather and his skin condition. He stated that he was trying to warm himself and that his loose clothing, which he was adjusting at the time due to eczema, was mistaken for inappropriate behavior.

Despite Zhang’s claims that he was only inspecting himself due to concerns about a medical issue, magistrates found his explanation unconvincing. They concluded that his actions were sexually motivated, especially given the context and the nature of his conduct. The court noted inconsistencies in his statements, including his belief that he was concerned about a medical problem, which did not align with his explicit actions in the sauna.

Having lived in the UK for over two decades and being a member of the leisure centre for more than ten years, Zhang was also ordered to pay a total of £400 in prosecution costs, a victim surcharge of £114, complete 180 hours of unpaid work, and attend 20 days of rehabilitation activities. The case highlights the serious nature of public decency violations and the importance of maintaining appropriate conduct in shared public spaces in Salford.