MARK PITTAWAY'S SHOCKING PORTLAND FLASHING SCANDAL LEAVES SCHOOLGIRLS TERRIFIED

In April 2023, a disturbing case involving Mark Pittaway, a solicitor with longstanding ties to Portland, has come to light, revealing a pattern of indecent exposure that has left young girls traumatized and fearful. Pittaway, who has been practicing law since 1986 and was employed at Thursfields Legal Limited at the time of the incidents, was found guilty of multiple counts of indecent exposure, which he committed over a span of more than three years, from January 2018 to May 2021.

According to tribunal proceedings, Pittaway repeatedly exposed himself to schoolgirls while out running near his residence in Portland, Dorset. The victims, some as young as fourteen, described feeling 'scared,' 'targeted,' and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his actions. The tribunal heard that Pittaway's offending was not a one-time event but a persistent pattern, with reports indicating he targeted nearly every day for two years.

He was convicted at West Dorset Magistrates' Court on five counts of indecent exposure, specifically for exposing his genitals in a manner intended to cause alarm or distress. During the trial, Pittaway maintained that any exposure was accidental, attributing it to the length of his shorts and his experience as a seasoned runner. He claimed that he was unaware of his genitals being visible at the time, suggesting that the incidents occurred when his shorts 'hitched up' as he scratched his groin.

Despite his assertions, CCTV footage and eyewitness testimonies from schoolgirls confirmed the exposure. Pittaway acknowledged that his genitals were visible on the footage but insisted he had not known at the time. The footage showed that the exposure likely happened when his shorts 'hitched up' during his runs.

Following his conviction, Pittaway was sentenced in March 2022 to a combination of penalties, including a suspended prison sentence, a 12-week curfew with electronic monitoring, 20 days of rehabilitation requirements, and 250 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was subjected to a five-year sexual harm prevention order, which mandated that any exercise in public must be done in trousers or knee-length shorts without front fastenings. He was also banned from running during weekday mornings between 7 am and 9 am, as well as from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm, and from being within sight of any school premises.

In October 2021, Pittaway self-reported his conduct to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, warning that he had been charged with five offences of indecent exposure. He also disclosed that the incidents had occurred in Portland, Dorset, and that media attention might follow. During the disciplinary hearing, he offered no mitigation for his actions, which he had previously denied.

One of the victims, known only as person A, provided a victim impact statement to the tribunal. She recounted that Pittaway had exposed himself to her nearly every day for two years while she was walking to and from school. She described her feelings of fear and helplessness, stating, 'It was horrible. I would go to school scared and frightened of what will happen to me. I thought he would rape me or do something worse.' She further explained that the experience had left her with lasting trauma, including PTSD, and that she felt degraded and targeted as a young girl.

Another girl, identified as person B, expressed her discomfort and fear, revealing that she always made sure to be accompanied or to have a lift to avoid encounters with Pittaway. The panel found Pittaway's conduct to be 'disgraceful' and 'totally unbecoming of a member of the solicitors' profession.'

In its ruling, the tribunal emphasized the 'immense' impact of Pittaway's actions, noting that his deliberate targeting of vulnerable female victims was particularly egregious. The panel stated that his behavior was not disconnected from his professional standing and that such conduct was incompatible with the reputation expected of a solicitor. Consequently, the tribunal ordered Pittaway to be struck off the Roll of Solicitors and to pay costs amounting to £2,850.

Overall, this case underscores the serious consequences of misconduct that breaches both legal and moral standards, especially when it involves vulnerable members of the community in Portland, Dorset.