GRAHAM BEEVERS CASE IN HALIFAX: OFFENDER'S FAILURE TO ACCEPT HIS BEHAVIOUR
A forklift driver, Graham Beevers, who mocked transgender friends before exposing himself and masturbating in front of them, does not believe his conduct caused any distress.The incident occurred at a remote beauty spot above Marsden Moor, where Beevers, aged 52, pulled out his penis in full view of two women, laughed at their appearance, and then pleasuring himself.
He reportedly told them, "I would have f*****d you both." Beevers was found guilty of exposure at Kirklees Magistrates' Court earlier this month.
Magistrates noted that his actions demonstrated hostility based on the women’s transgender identities.
During his sentencing hearing, it was revealed that Beevers still does not think he did anything wrong.
His solicitor, Jonathan Slawinski, explained: "His behaviour shows entrenched, underlying issues with people with different gender characteristics.
He struggles to understand the hurt he's caused, and that needs to be looked at and challenged." Beevers claimed he went to Buckstones car park, known locally as a 'dogging site,' to watch hang gliders after finishing his shift at Manchester Airport.
However, the court heard that he drove in and parked alongside the women’s convertible in his Honda Civic before sitting on a fence and fondling himself while staring at them.
The victims, friends who bonded over their transgender identities and love for cars, had arrived at the New Hey Road site at 2:30 pm on July 27 of the previous year to enjoy a picnic and take photos.
The court described how Beevers sat in his car, observed the women for a while, then reversed into a parking space.
He then exited his vehicle, sat on a fence, and for several minutes, exposed his genitals and masturbated.
Afterward, he jumped down from the fence, approached the women’s car, stared at them, and said, “Alright?” before returning to his vehicle.
Later, he left his car with no clothing on his lower half, sat in front of the victims’ car, and again engaged in masturbation.
One of the women remarked, "Being transgender, you pay the price.
Whenever you're out in public, you face lots of derogatory words." The second woman described how what she saw made her stomach turn.
Prosecutor Alex Bozman stated: "She felt uneasy and scared.
Mr.
Beevers is a large man, and they were frightened that something else could have happened.
She said, 'We now feel fearful when we go to these places, which is so sad because we just want to enjoy ourselves.'" Bozman emphasized that Beevers demonstrated hostility towards the women based on their transgender status.
He noted that Beevers admitted during police interview to saying, "I would have f*****d the both of you," and acknowledged he wouldn’t have made such a comment if the victims had been two females, indicating transphobia.
In court, Beevers claimed he laughed at the women because he thought they looked amusing and described them as "dressed-up men" who didn't seem convincing as women.
His solicitor argued that the women could not have seen him naked because they failed to notice distinctive tattoos on his legs and a Prince Albert piercing through the top of his penis.
Although he told police he believed he was at a dogging site, Beevers denied that he went there for consensual sex.
The magistrates found him guilty of intentionally exposing his genitals to cause alarm or distress.
His solicitor, Mr.
Slawinski, stated that Beevers maintains his innocence and that his family supports him, though he faces investigation at work.
He addressed the court, saying: "The offence must have been very unpleasant for the complainants.
His behaviour and his commentary show entrenched, underlying issues with people with different gender characteristics.
He doesn't seem to acknowledge a problem exists.
He doesn't realize he caused them harassment, alarm, or distress.
He has rigid views that need to be challenged and addressed." He warned that if Beevers were sent to custody, the opportunity to work on these issues would be lost, as he would be placed in isolation, preventing psychological work and potential prevention of a repeat offence.
Ultimately, magistrates sentenced Beevers to a community order, including 20 days of rehabilitation activity, notably the Maps for Change programme focusing on sexual offending, and 300 hours of unpaid work.
This sentence was given as a direct alternative to custody.
Beevers must also pay £620 in court costs and a £90 victim surcharge.
Furthermore, he is ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years and must provide his personal details to police within three days.
