Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A serial flasher who was caught masturbating in front of a toddler in Chelmsford Primark has a 'compulsion to expose himself', a court has heard.

Aaron Birchall, of Shelley Road, Chelmsford, was seen on the store's CCTV on January 16 this year moving his arm up and down next to a buggy with a child in it.

All that was covering him was a coat, which he had taken from Primark.

Staff recognised him the following day when he returned to the store and he was arrested and charged with criminal damage of the coat and exposure.

Birchall has a long history of exposing himself in public, telling professionals that he feels 'compelled' to do it.

Hi rap sheet includes 10 similar offences, for which he was convicted of in 2014, and a further 11 offences committed in Sussex in 2017.

He fell to be sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday morning for his crimes in Chelmsford and Sussex (Friday, April 24).

Birchall returned to the store the next day

A police investigation into Birchall's offending in Sussex was already ongoing when he visited Primark in High Chelmer Shopping Centre in January.

He had been discharged from a treatment centre in August 2019 to help his substance abuse and sex addiction.

But just five months later, at around midday on Thursday, January 16, Birchall was up to his old habits and was caught masturbating on CCTV.

Jack Talbot, prosecuting the case, said: "At around 12.50pm, Birchall appears to be moving between the rows of shoes.

"He can then be seen loitering with his back to the camera.

"He is then seen carrying a coat which is covering his hip area.

"His right arm can be seen moving up and down, standing near a child in a buggy.

"He remained there for about 20 to 30 seconds."

Birchall left the store but returned the following day where he was arrested and charged after admitting criminal damage to the coat and exposure.

The 35-year-old has been remanded in custody since that day.

But Birchall's prolific offending started much earlier, including when he masturbated in front of four different underage girls on the same day in Seaford and Brighton in 2017.

Birchall 'travelled and selected his victims'

(Image: Essex Police)

Mr Talbot explained to the court, which was held over video conference, that Birchall beckoned a young girl and her friend over to his car on July 9, 2017.

"A young girl, who was with her friend was beckoned over to a car which had pulled over," he said.

"She thought that the man was going to ask her for directions.

"He was showing her his penis and he was rubbing it."

In subsequent police interviews, Birchall described how he was "rubbing it to try and get sperm out".

Mr Talbot added that the incident had left the young victim very upset and "feeling very anxious".

And yet on the same day, Birchall travelled to Brighton and masturbated again, also in front of young children.

Mr Talbot explained how Birchall's victims became aware of him and didn't like the look of him as he was wearing a rain jacket in the middle of a hot summer's day.

"The victim realised that Birchall was masturbating," Mr Talbot said.

"He said to her 'Do you like what you see?'. This is not simply a case of a man flashing a child.

"It is a man who is going around, travelling and selecting victims."

"He had his genitals out and he was playing with himself."

The following month, Birchall again beckoned a young girl who was walking a dog over to his car.

Thinking that he was asking for directions, the victim approached him.

"When she approached him he said 'Are you up for a little play?' and she saw that he was holding his penis," Mr Talbot said.

A week later, on August 12 2017, Birchall was once again reported as masturbating in public in front of another victim.

On September 5, a young girl aged under 18 was walking to college in Seaford when she saw a male lift up his shorts..

Mr Talbot added: "He had his genitals out and he was playing with himself.

"The victim describes him as having been 'wafting' his penis around.

"She tried not to react to him as she was scared he would follow her."

The same day, two more victims reported Birchall exposing himself again in the evening.

On September 12, a victim aged under 18 again reported Birchall for exposing himself.

She had gone for a walk when she saw him sitting on a verge masturbating.

He looked directly at her and said: "Look at me, watch me, I'm coming."

The same day, another victim reported Birchell for exposing himself.

She had gone for a walk on the beach that evening, and was standing on the promenade when a man approached.

Mr Talbot told the court: "After leaning on the railings for around 10 minutes, the victim noticed a male approach.

"He stopped and sat down, making the victim feel uncomfortable.

"When she went to leave she saw that he had pulled his shorts up and was masturbating and walking towards her.

"She shouted to him 'That's not okay' and he took a step towards her."

Birchall was identified as the suspect for these offences from a mixture of victim statements, CCTV and tracking devices.

He was arrested and admitted his crimes.

"The defendant is troubled"

Gavin Burrell, mitigating on behalf of the defendant, explained how professionals have said he suffers from a condition where he feels "compelled to expose himself".

Mr Burrell also said that Birchell had suffered from poor mental health, drug addiction and depression in the past.

However, he added that Birchell had expressed knowledge of his wrongdoings, had searched for help in the past and had entered early guilty pleas.

He said: "I think it's fair to say that most of the matters are from 2017, but when he has been presented with accusation, Mr Birchell has pleaded guilty.

"The defendant it seems is troubled with many issues - poor mental health, cocaine addiction and a compulsion to expose himself.

"The defendant has accepted his actions on the first time I met him at the police station.

Mr Burrell went on to say that the latest offence in Chelmsford was a "relapse", adding: "He wanted to make admissions to get back on track.

"What struck me was his acceptance of what had taken place and that he needed to deal with it."

Mr Burrell explained how Birchell has never tried to blame anyone else for his offences, and that he wants to undertake programmes that can help him.

The defendant committed the offences for his own gratification, according to Mr Burrell, and he was not trying to scare his victims despite him telling a doctor how he enjoyed the shock his exposing created.

"He knew what he was doing"

Presiding Judge Jonathon Seely questioned how successful his treatment had been, with him offending again just five months after his discharge.

He said: "He was successfully discharged in August but he then went on to commit another offence.

"He made the decision to go to Primark and masturbate."

Judge Seely also told the court how Birchall had told a doctor in an assessment that he know what he was doing when he offended in Jaunuary.

He added: "Mr Birchall told the doctor that he wasn't intoxicated and he knew what he was doing.

"He didn't care that there was a toddler in a buggy and another child close by.

"What he told the doctors is that it was a deliberate decision, knowing full well what he was doing and he chose to commit these offences again and again.

"He must face the consequences."

Addressing Birchall, Judge Seely said: "The course was limited in success as you went on to commit further offences.

"It doesn't appear to have stopped you.

"What you said to the doctor is particularly concerning.

"You say you made the decision to go to Primark and masturbate.

"You were fully aware of what you were doing.

"You took this decision time and time again and now you must face the consequences."

Birchall was sentenced to a total of two years behind bars.

This included a 22-month sentence for five counts of performing a sexual act in the presence of a child to run concurrently alongside each other.

He was handed a further two months for exposure and one month for criminal damage for his crimes in Chelmsford, also to run concurrently to each other.