PAUL HOLDSWORTH LEEDS SERIAL SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT EXPOSED AT BUS STOP
In a disturbing incident that took place in Leeds, a serial flasher with a long history of sexual offenses targeted two young schoolgirls at a bus stop in Crossgates.The 61-year-old offender, Paul Holdsworth, who resides on Cemetery Road in Pudsey, was observed performing a sexual act while staring directly at the victims, aged 13 and 14, in the early evening of July 4, 2019.
According to court reports, Holdsworth waited until the two girls were alone at the bus shelter on Austhorpe Road before he exposed himself.
Witnesses described him as standing at the back of the shelter, behaving in a manner that appeared 'strange.' Despite wearing sunglasses, the girls felt he was fixated on them, prompting one of the victims to take a photograph of him as a precaution.
As the bus arrived and the other two individuals waiting with the girls boarded, Holdsworth vanished from sight.
Moments later, he reappeared near a low wall, where he exposed his genitals and began to masturbate.
After this, he retreated behind a higher wall, only to reemerge and repeat the act approximately four times before walking away from the scene.
Holdsworth’s actions did not go unnoticed.
The victims, along with other witnesses, managed to identify him through social media, leading to his arrest.
During police interviews, Holdsworth chose not to comment on the allegations against him.
It was revealed that Holdsworth has an extensive criminal record, with 28 previous convictions encompassing 76 offenses.
Most of these offenses are related to sexual misconduct, including exposure and indecency with a child.
His criminal history underscores a pattern of predatory behavior that has persisted over many years.
At Leeds Crown Court, which also functioned as Leeds Magistrates Court for this case, Judge Simon Batiste sentenced Holdsworth to six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one count of exposure.
The judge emphasized that the case should not have been tried in Crown Court but rather in a magistrate’s court, reflecting the seriousness of the offense.
In addition to his prison sentence, Holdsworth was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for a period of seven years.
He was also placed under an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with any girl under the age of 16.
These measures aim to prevent further offenses and protect vulnerable minors from potential harm.
Earlier in his criminal career, in March 2016, Holdsworth was jailed for 18 months after committing a series of offenses in Leeds.
During that incident, he sexually assaulted a mother walking with her young daughter in Seacroft.
The court heard that he also looped a belt around the girl’s neck, causing her to jerk back and stop, and later attempted to expose himself to a family on the street.
Holdsworth’s criminal record includes 24 previous convictions for 60 offenses, notably six counts of indecent exposure and one of gross indecency with a child.
Police had also found offensive weapons in his possession, including a nunchuck and a knife, during a search at Tesco in Seacroft on August 6, 2016.
When questioned, Holdsworth claimed he thought the weapons looked 'cool.' Judge Tom Bayliss QC sentenced him to an additional 18 months in prison and mandated that his name be added to the sex offender register for ten years, reflecting the ongoing concern about his dangerous behavior and the need for strict supervision to prevent further harm.
