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Original poster

Flashing

113 replies

reportit · 01/10/2021 17:29

Wayne Couzens is said to have flashed / exposed himself to women a few times
In the lead up to his murder of Sarah Everard.

It got me thinking...

How many of us have been victims of so called flashing? Did you report it? What happened?

It happened to me twice. Once as a child (13-14?) on the beach with friends.

Second time aged 18. It was reported and i went to court. He was convicted for indecent exposure with intent to assault.

OP posts:
Od130990 · 02/10/2021 14:44

@PicsInRed You're 100% correct. I was flashed by the uncle of 3 kids I babysat for when I was a teen, I never thought much of it at first; he was a drunk & always acting up but 4 months later he attempted to sexually assault me. He was reported by his brother & given a suspended sentence.

Cazzovuoi · 02/10/2021 14:46

Yes. Came upon a naked man swinging his penis on a Dublin beach when I was about 11 or 12.

I told my Mum who said to stay away but didn’t report it.

TorySteller · 02/10/2021 16:19

I was flashed at work when I was 18.

Quite outing to explain it exactly, but it was similar to a man being in a changing room and asking for a different size - when I took him something he was just standing there completely naked.

I worked alone and it terrified me at the time. Before he left he asked if I fancied a fling with an older man - he was at least 30 years older than me Angry

I was a shy and not very worldly-wise 18 year old, I think I just laughed nervously and let him leave. Honestly, if it’d happened now I would’ve tried to call the police before he left. Or I would’ve at least given him some sharp words and taken his reg plate or something.

An absolutely vile man, who I often saw in the local area with his wife. I so wish I’d reported it, or reacted differently.

OhWhyNot · 02/10/2021 16:33

Yes a few times when I was younger. A man used to jog near our high school (all girls) with his penis out. We used to laugh about it and the teachers overheard. The police got involved.

Another time saw a man wanking. I left school early for an appointment and I think he saw me pulled over as when I walked passed he beeped so I would look round.
Told family not reported just told to be careful of creeps

Another time me and my friend were walking home from school a guy walked passed and exposed himself. Again not reported and told to be careful

At the time harassment was so played down
And people were not aware of how sexual motivated crimes often escalate

Above is so disturbing as I was a child

Another time in the tube when it was very I was so shocked I could say anything

SciFiScream · 02/10/2021 16:40

What's the best way to respond to an incident of indecent exposure?

Individually at the time (if you can be composed enough to respond well) and then later.

Do you look at the face to try and get a good description for the police?

Ignore? Laugh? Run away? Try and take a photo of the face?

SciFiScream · 02/10/2021 16:42

My 6 year old DD (at the time, older now) told me that one day she bent down to pick a pencil off the floor and when she looked under the table one of her school mates had his penis out and was playing with it.

I reported that to the teacher. Don't think anything was done.

Bagelsandbrie · 02/10/2021 16:42

@SciFiScream

What's the best way to respond to an incident of indecent exposure?

Individually at the time (if you can be composed enough to respond well) and then later.

Do you look at the face to try and get a good description for the police?

Ignore? Laugh? Run away? Try and take a photo of the face?

I don’t know what the “official” guidance might be, if there is any, but personally I think ignoring them completely and keep walking as fast as you can to get away from them is the best advice. I think responding or laughing might provoke some of them into doing more than indecently exposing themselves.
PandoraP · 02/10/2021 16:54

Yes many times both as a young teen and adult. I always just thought they were weirdos, but harmless. Felt more pity for them than intimidating. Have changed my views now to be honest!

OhWhyNot · 02/10/2021 17:52

I think we were bought up to feel pity for these men who were so sexually frustrated even if we didn’t understand that we knows these men were viewed as pathetic

They were not viewed as sexual predators

If I were a boy those men would have been viewed as dangerous

StatisticallyChallenged · 02/10/2021 18:35

@SciFiScream

What's the best way to respond to an incident of indecent exposure?

Individually at the time (if you can be composed enough to respond well) and then later.

Do you look at the face to try and get a good description for the police?

Ignore? Laugh? Run away? Try and take a photo of the face?

Safety first imo - I was out walking recently, turned a corner on a cut through to be faced with a guy masterbating clearly, dick fully out, in the middle of (and totally blocking) the narrow path.

Several folk said to me I should have taken a photo. I was alone and instantly realised that I was out of sight of anyone except this literal wanker. I wasn't going to start a confrontation by taking a photo- I walked (backwards) to the open ground then turned and ran until there were people around.

If it's in a safer situation then a photo would make sense.

Try to report ASAP- I did but it was about an hour later and the police said next time 999 and they'd send someone straight away to drive around and look for the culprit

LuaDipa · 02/10/2021 18:47

My dsis and I were flashed in a park. I was 13, dsis was younger. I remember feeling shocked afraid and scared. I dragged dsis off and we found dm but I never said anything. I think maybe because dm had told me not to go too far and to be careful and look after dsis.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. I always thought that dsis was fine as she just laughed at the time, but I’ve only recently realised that she didn’t actually tell dm either and she always told about everything so now I’m not so sure.

VAT2 · 23/10/2022 12:00

Sorry for a late comment, but I have just discoverd this site.
This reminds me of when I was at school in the 70s. There was a boy in the year above us who used to stand on his doorstep totally naked, and he did this every day. A group of us used to walk past his house regularly just to see if he was there. It was funny in a group, but I would never have done it on my own.
He stopped doing it eventually, but I do wonder what happened to him.

AspiringAuthor101 · 23/10/2022 12:05

Yes. I was 13, it was horrible, and it was reported. I have no idea if anything came of it.

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