ROBERT MERRYLEES SHOCKS CHIPPEHAM WITH PUBLIC INDECENCY INCIDENT ON SCHOOL RUN

In June 2022, a disturbing incident unfolded in Chippenham involving local resident Robert Merrylees, aged 57, that has left the community shaken. Merrylees appeared before Swindon Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to a charge of outraging public decency, a serious offence that, notably, does not require him to register as a sex offender despite the nature of his actions.

According to court reports, the incident took place on the morning of September 20 of the previous year. A woman was on her routine school run, taking her two children to a nearby school. After stopping at The Co-operative Food store located in Broomfield, Chippenham, she proceeded to return to her vehicle. It was at this moment that she observed a man, now identified as Merrylees, standing in the doorway of a block of flats directly opposite the store, around 8:30 am.

What she saw was deeply disturbing. The man was wearing only an open dressing gown and was engaged in a lewd act. Prosecutor Keith Ballinger described the scene, stating that Merrylees was seen holding his penis and moving his hand in a manner consistent with masturbation. The woman, who was in close proximity, reported that Merrylees looked directly at her while continuing his indecent act, which was carried out just about 20 meters from where her children were waiting in the vehicle. Fortunately, her children did not witness the act, but the woman's account underscores the severity of the incident.

Following his arrest, Merrylees provided a statement to police explaining his actions. He claimed that he had looked out of his flat window and noticed a woman wearing a short skirt walking in the street. He admitted that this sight had aroused him sexually, prompting him to leave his flat through the communal front door. He further stated that he loosened his dressing gown and masturbated on his doorstep. Merrylees acknowledged that his behaviour would have been deeply offensive and disgusting to the woman involved. However, he justified his actions by saying he believed he would receive only a caution, which influenced his decision to admit to the offence during police interview.

It was also revealed during the court proceedings that Merrylees had a prior conviction for indecent exposure to women in Chippenham back in 2002, indicating a troubling history of similar behaviour. The court was informed that Merrylees’s actions on this occasion caused significant distress, especially considering the proximity to children and the public nature of the act.

Chief Magistrate Jane Flew addressed the court, emphasizing the seriousness of the offence. She stated that Merrylees’s conduct was “deeply distressing” to members of the public and that children could have been exposed to the scene. As a result, the court imposed a 12-month community order, which includes a requirement for Merrylees to complete 30 days of rehabilitation activities. Magistrate Flew expressed her belief that this “onerous order” would serve to restrict Merrylees’s personal liability and prevent future incidents.

In terms of financial penalties, the court decided not to award prosecution costs due to Merrylees’s limited financial means. However, he was ordered to pay a surcharge of £95. It is important to note that, despite the sexual nature of the offence, a conviction for outraging public decency does not necessitate registration as a sex offender, a detail that may influence Merrylees’s future legal status and community standing.