A MAN who exposed himself in front of two girls in Rhyl, and who was found to be in possession of more than 2,000 indecent images of children, has been jailed.

Richard Washington, 44, of Wilmot Drive, Golborne, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment at Mold Crown Court today (September 26).

He had previously admitted one charge of exposure, and three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child.

Prosecuting, Sarah Badrawy told the court that, shortly after 2pm on September 2, 2022, two girls were sat outside The Range in Marina Quay Shopping Park when they say Washington walking towards them.

One of the girls felt Washington had “smiled weirdly” at them, before she noticed his penis hanging out of his shorts, which “shocked” her.

The girls walked past Washington, but when turned around to look back at him, he was stood still, staring and smiling at them.

A mother of one of the girls was informed, before she then contacted police – a short time later, officers found Washington nearby, his fly still undone.

He said it was a “mistake”, and that he may have been smiling because he was listening to a comedy podcast at the time, but was arrested.

Washington was later released under investigation, but on September 23, 2023, a number of his electronic devices were seized from his home following an execution of a search warrant.

Analysis of the devices showed that they contained 2,272 files depicting indecent images of children.

Of these, 270 were “category A” (the most serious), while 171 were category B, and 1,701 category C.

The images, dating from April 9 to August 30, 2023, involved children aged between two and 17, some appearing “visibly distressed” and enduring “humiliating acts of a sexual nature”.

Defending Washington, who had previously been convicted for driving matters in 2013, Simon Rogers said his client has lost his employment and contact with his young son.

Mr Rogers also asked the court to take into account Washington’s guilty pleas when passing sentence.

Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Washington: “They (the two girls), understandably, were pretty shocked at what they saw.

“They were particularly vulnerable because of their age, and that would have been obvious to you.”

Washington will adhere to a sexual harm prevention order, and sex offenders register notification requirements, for 10 years.

He is disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults, and his seized electronic items were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed.

Judge Rowlands also ordered him to pay a statutory surcharge.