MARK LEMON BANNED FROM BOURNEMOUTH PUBS AFTER EXPOSED HIMSELF TO SCHOOLGIRLS
In a case that has shocked the Bournemouth community, 56-year-old Mark Lemon from Chesildene Avenue was brought before Bournemouth Crown Court to face serious allegations related to inappropriate conduct involving young girls.The incident took place in a Poole pub last year, where Lemon's actions prompted a police investigation that uncovered disturbing evidence.
According to court reports, Lemon drove to the pub on June 6 of the previous year and approached two 11-year-old girls who were nearby, playing in the vicinity.
He asked the girls to look after his car, which they agreed to, and then entered the pub to purchase a pint.
After returning outside, Lemon sat on a bench close to the girls, engaging them in conversation.
Prosecutor Nicholas Robinson stated that Lemon later claimed the girls had spoken to him, but the girls recounted that he asked them, “are you naughty at school?” What followed was a distressing series of events.
The girls described how Lemon pulled his shorts aside and exposed his genitals, then proceeded to invite them to sit next to him on the bench.
Remarkably, Lemon remained seated with the girls for over 30 minutes, during which his inappropriate behavior persisted.
The girls, frightened and confused, managed to remember his car registration number, which later proved crucial in the police investigation.
Two days after the incident, Lemon was arrested.
During a search of his home, authorities seized a laptop and a computer tower.
Analysis of these devices revealed four images classified as “level one,” depicting individuals in erotic poses but with no explicit sexual activity.
Additionally, police found 240 images of children in bikinis, which were not deemed unlawful by investigators.
Further examination uncovered that Lemon had conducted 22 online searches using terms associated with paedophilia, specifically looking for images of girls under 16.
In court, Lemon’s defense lawyer, Brian Sharman, acknowledged that his client, who works as a car park attendant, initially denied the allegations of exposure when questioned by police.
This denial caused the victims to be subjected to video interviews, which was a source of embarrassment for Lemon.
However, Sharman emphasized that Lemon had shown remorse and had accepted that his actions were wrong, impressing the probation officer in the process.
Ultimately, Lemon pleaded guilty to exposure and four counts of possessing indecent images of children.
He denied an additional count of exposure, which the Crown did not pursue.
The court noted that Lemon had no previous convictions, and as part of his sentence, he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years.
Furthermore, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was issued, restricting his internet access and prohibiting him from being alone with children.
Judge Peter Johnson concluded that a custodial sentence was not appropriate under the circumstances, opting instead for a community order that included mandatory attendance at a sex offenders’ course to address his deviant tendencies.
