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Senior judge cleared of flashing | |
(10 minutes later) | |
One of Britain's most senior judges has been cleared of exposing himself twice a woman on packed commuter trains. | |
Sir Stephen Richards, 56, of Wimbledon, was accused of flashing at the same woman on trains in south-west London on 16 and 24 October 2006. | |
But the Court of Appeals judge told Westminster magistrates the allegations were a case of mistaken identity. | But the Court of Appeals judge told Westminster magistrates the allegations were a case of mistaken identity. |
City of Westminster magistrates said the evidence to identify Sir Stephen was insufficient. | |
'Truthful evidence' | |
They said in the absence of any evidence supporting the judge's identification and "for this reason only" they could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt. | They said in the absence of any evidence supporting the judge's identification and "for this reason only" they could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt. |
After hearing the evidence, Senior District Judge Timothy Workman said the case came down to Sit Stephen's word against the woman's. | |
However, he said the woman, a City worker in her 20s, gave "clear, dignified and truthful evidence". | |
During the two-day trial, the court heard she had allegedly captured Sir Stephen on a mobile phone and identified him at a video identity parade. | |
Sir Stephen had pleaded not guilty to two counts of "intentionally exposing his genitals intending that someone would see them and would be caused alarm or distress". | Sir Stephen had pleaded not guilty to two counts of "intentionally exposing his genitals intending that someone would see them and would be caused alarm or distress". |
The father-of-three told City of Westminster Magistrates' Court he could not "perceive deriving any form of gratification" from such an act. | The father-of-three told City of Westminster Magistrates' Court he could not "perceive deriving any form of gratification" from such an act. |