Indecent exposures: victims urged to come forward

Police officers investigating a series of indecent exposures across Wiltshire are appealing for witnesses and potential victims to come forward.

Between January of 2019 and October of this year the force has received reports of suspicious incidents in Melksham, Upavon and Calne and believe they may all involve the same suspect.

On each occasion a lone female victim was targeted by a man in a dark-coloured vehicle who stopped them to ask for directions, but when the women tried to help, they realised he was exposing himself.

There was also a separate indecent exposure incident in the Swindon area which may also be linked.

A man in his 40s has been identified as a potential suspect and interviewed in connection with two of the incidents.

PC Rebecca Nixon, from the Trowbridge Area Community Policing Team, said: “We know that this is the type of crime which very often goes unreported, with victims feeling shocked, upset or embarrassed by what has happened to them.

“However, it is a serious crime, which can often lead to even more serious offending, and we need to ensure we have all the relevant information and evidence compiled, so that we can identify the offender and bring them to justice.

“We believe we have identified four separate crimes, dating between January 2019 and October 2020, which could have been committed by the same offender.

“Therefore, if this is correct, there could be more victims out there.”

Anybody who believes they have been the victim of an indecent exposure which happened in similar circumstances is asked to contact PC Nixon on 101, quoting crime reference 54200088627.
 

The police also urge anyone who is the victim of this type of offence to have the confidence to call 101, 999 if the crime is in progress, or report online via www.wiltshire.police.uk