Paul Smith 66

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A man dubbed 'Britain's worst flasher', who has clocked up 170 offences during his vile 51-year campaign of exposing himself, has been jailed - again. 

Prolific offender Paul Smith, 65, has been in and out of court since 1972 when he just a 14-year-old schoolboy for repeatedly flashing his genitals at passers-by.

The pervert's sickening acts have seen him exposing himself to lone women at bus stops and young children in their gardens, as he tried to hide his identity by wearing disguises. 

Smith has been repeatedly jailed, with judges having imposed court orders and making him complete sex therapy programmes in attempts to curb his warped behaviour. One judge even branded the menace a 'one-man public nuisance' who will 'end up dying in prison'.

In one incident vigilantes left Smith with multiple fractures following a revenge beating after he travelled 50 miles from his home in Horwich, Bolton, Greater Manchester, to flash at children including a seven-year old girl.

During various court appearances he could offer no explanation for his behaviour other than 'compulsive attention-seeking' or a 'reaction to stress scenarios.' He also warned he will never be able to stop and told police he 'wanted to be noticed'.

Smith was arrested again last April after he targeted the stationary bus full of revellers in Manchester city centre only two days after he was given a suspended sentence in Bradford, West Yorkshire for flashing at lone women and children at bus stops in nearby Halifax.

In the latest matter he was foiled by a bus driver, who spotted him gesturing for his passengers to look in his direction while waving his penis around for two minutes on a busy street. When arrested Smith told police: 'I was just running for the bus.'

At Manchester Crown Court, Smith was jailed for 25 months after he admitted outraging public decency. He will remain subject of a lifetime sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) and must sign the Sex Offender Register.

Smith was just 14 when he was first convicted of exposing himself and after clocking up similar offences first went to jail in 1998 for 45 months for exposing himself to two children in Bolton.

He started taking his bicycle on trains to target victims outside his hometown but in 2010 he was jailed for six years and was issued with his first SHPO at Liverpool and was banned from making similar journeys.

In 2014 Smith was jailed for four years after getting the train to Bradford to flash at more victims only to be chased and assaulted by a vigilante gang who left him with fractured ribs and a broken collar bone, pelvis and wrist.

In 2016 he was held again by police after breaching a new ban on wearing disguises to sport a snood, a hat, and sunglasses, before acting indecently at a bus stop in the Northern Quarter in Manchester. 

Then in 2020 he was sent back to jail after undercover police officers saw him dropping his trousers in front of female commuters whilst loitering at Piccadilly Bus Station during the morning rush hour.

Last April 21 Smith was sentenced to two years jail suspended for two years after eight more flashing offences at bus stops in Halifax including one incident in front of two screaming 10-year-old children near a school. 

At the time a judge called him a 'one-man public nuisance' and told him: 'You've been sent to prison over and over again. You've had sex therapy, but you keep on doing it. I've now read a psychiatric report that suggests you need some serious anti-depressant medication. 

'In my view you'll end up dying in prison - well if that's what you want, no one can stop you.'

Speaking of Smith's latest offence, prosecutor Alex Beevers told the defendant had been standing on the side of Lever Street, Manchester at 6.10pm on Sunday, April 23. 

It was here the 65-year-old spotted by the driver of the 135 bus, which had been taking passengers from Bury to Manchester city centre, facing the vehicle. 

'He was wearing a hooded top and a blue surgical mask and was waving his penis with his hand,' Mr Beevers told the court.  

'He was gesturing towards the bus passengers to look in his direction. 

'The incident lasted just over two minutes before the driver called the police. 

'The defendant fled on foot towards the city centre but was caught a short time later. When arrested he told them "I was just running for a bus".

'He was interviewed the next day and gave no comment. 

'He has a staggering amount of offences on his record, many of which are for similar offences of exposure in very busy, public places.'

In mitigation, defence lawyer Jane Greenhalgh said: 'Mr Smith simply cannot stop himself offending in this fashion. 

'It is a frustrating case because it is clear that the defendant cannot effect any sense of self control over his actions. He tells me this is his reaction to stressful scenarios. He has had a lifelong struggle with this behaviour.

'He has fully accepted the impact of his offending and did not seek to minimise it at any point. 

'He is unemployed and has been caring for his father for a number of years.'

In sentencing, Judge Eliot Knopf told Smith: 'My options of dealing with you are extremely limited. 

'You are an intelligent man who realises the impact of your actions but are unable to stop yourself.

'It is clear from a report there s no mental health issue present in your case. 

'One just hopes that when you are released from custody that you are able to manage yourself in a situation that doesn't end up with you appearing in these courts.'