MAN JAILED FOR EXPOSING HIMSELF TO SCHOOLCHILDREN IN FLINTSHIRE AND WREXHAM

A MAN who exposed himself to children walking to school in Flintshire and Wrexham has been sentenced to jail. Christopher Deakin, aged 55, from Henley Close, Oswestry, appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing after admitting two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children. The first offence took place on June 10, when he was driving a van near Ysgol Rhiwabon around 8.20am, slowly passing two girls and performing a sex act on himself. The children felt 'sick' and reported the incident to their parents that evening. Deakin was arrested the following day, June 11, and was released on bail.Later, on October 9, two girls walking home from Hawarden High School saw Deakin again in his van with the windows down and observed him performing a sex act on himself. One of the children, later in the company of her mother, recognized the vehicle and saw the registration plate, which was subsequently provided to the police. CCTV footage confirmed the vehicle's identity. Deakin was arrested the next day while traveling from North Wales to Oswestry, during which he questioned officers, saying, "How many times is this going to go on?"The court heard victim impact statements from four children, describing feelings of fear, nightmares, and an inability to walk to school. Deakin has a criminal record that includes three convictions for five offences, notably attempted murder, and a previous conviction for indecent exposure to children in Scotland, dating back 17 years. His defense argued that Deakin was experiencing mental health issues, including a suspected borderline personality disorder, which he was unable to get assessed for due to remand circumstances. The defendant expressed remorse for his actions.Judge Niclas Parry described the offences as "worrying" and sentenced Deakin to 20 months in prison. He also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order lasting 10 years, restricting Deakin from unsupervised contact with children and from loitering near parks, playgrounds, or schools. Detective Constable Andrew Vaughan stated, "Deakin’s behaviour by preying on schoolchildren as they walked to and from school for his own gratification is deeply concerning. I commend the victims and their families for their courage, which allowed us to hold Deakin accountable. This sentencing reflects our commitment to bringing sexual offenders to justice and protecting children."