ARMANDO TOMAYO SHOCKS ST HELENS WITH INDECENT EXPOSURE INCIDENT NEAR SCHOOLGIRLS

In June 2013, a disturbing case emerged involving Armando Tomayo, a man who caused significant concern among residents of St Helens after a series of indecent exposure incidents targeting schoolgirls in the Windlehurst area.

Tomayo, who was residing in the UK on a temporary visa after traveling from El Salvador, was found to have deliberately positioned himself in a bedroom window of a house in Windlehurst, where he repeatedly exposed himself to young girls walking home from school. The police were alerted to the situation after a group of schoolgirls reported their unsettling encounters with the man.

According to the prosecutor Angela Blackmore, the police investigation was initiated after the girls approached authorities, describing how they first noticed a man with his upper body exposed in a bedroom window. She recounted a statement from one of the victims, a 14-year-old girl, who said, “At the time we didn’t think anything of it as he was looking out of the window, smiling and waving. We waved back and carried on walking. We just thought he was being nice. Since then we saw the male on at least 12 occasions.”

Mrs. Blackmore further explained that on May 15, Tomayo, aged 25 at the time, was seen again in the window. This time, he was bare-chested with a visible area of his groin, which heightened the girls’ fears. The young girl expressed her concern, stating she felt he was “going too far” and was worried about what he might do next. The prosecutor noted that Tomayo consistently looked directly at the girls and waved at them multiple times, which added to their distress.

Frightened by the repeated incidents, the girl confided in her mother and older sister, who then met her after school to walk her home for safety. The harassment appeared to cease temporarily but resumed later when the girl was again walking with friends. This prompted her to report the incident to her mother, who subsequently contacted the police.

Authorities responded swiftly, arresting Tomayo at his residence. During police interviews, he initially claimed that he had just come out of the shower. However, under further questioning, he broke down and admitted to exposing himself. He explained that he had started the incident bare-chested and then exposed himself fully, acknowledging that his actions were inappropriate and expressing shame for what he had done. He also admitted that he targeted schoolgirls specifically.

Victims and their families were deeply affected by the ordeal. One of the schoolgirls provided a victim impact statement, revealing her fear of passing by Tomayo’s house and how the experience had impacted her eating habits. Her parents expressed concern for her well-being, emphasizing the importance of stopping such behavior.

In court, the defense solicitor, Chris Bivon, highlighted that Tomayo, who now resides in St Helens town centre, holds a six-month tourist visa valid until August 20. Bivon stated, “He is in this country lawfully, but because of these offences his visa won’t be renewed. He regrets what happened.”

Tomayo pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent exposure. The magistrates described his conduct as “reprehensible,” noting that his actions appeared premeditated and were particularly serious because they involved young schoolgirls. The court sentenced him to 12 weeks in prison, but this was reduced to eight weeks and suspended for 18 months. Additionally, he was placed under a curfew from 7 pm to 7 am, required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years, and ordered to pay each victim £50 in compensation.