‘Smirking’ insurance boss, 59, who exposed himself to two women avoids jail after claiming he was ‘punishing himself’ for his firm’s financial troubles

• Mark Mellett approached his victims on a park bench late at night in August
• Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard Mellett was seen to ‘play with himself’
• He claimed his actions were because of his insurance firm’s pandemic struggles

A ‘smirking’ insurance boss who exposed himself to two women on a park bench has avoided jail after claiming he was ‘punishing himself’ for his firm’s financial troubles.

Mark Mellett approached his horrified victims on a park bench late at night as one said to the other, ‘please don’t tell me he’s doing what I think he’s doing’.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard how the father-of-two, 59, followed them down a high street continuing to ‘play with himself’, using a notebook to sometimes cover himself up, before police were called.

In court he claimed his behaviour was a result of his company’s struggles during the pandemic.

Mark Mellett approached his horrified victims on a park bench late at night as one said to the other, ‘please don’t tell me he’s doing what I think he’s doing’

In court Mellet claimed his behaviour was a result of his company’s struggles during the pandemic

Mellett was given a 12-month community order, 100 hours of community service and 10 rehabilitation activity days after pleading guilty to indecent exposure.

The court heard how the two women were sat on a park bench in Eastleigh, Hampshire, one night in August this year when they saw Mellett approaching.

Prosecutor Varun Chuni told the court: ‘On 4 August this year at around 11.20pm two witnesses were sat on a bench…when they noticed a man.

‘One said to the other “please don’t tell me he’s doing what I think he’s doing”.

‘She could see he was playing with himself, touching his penis while staring at them, so they moved and started walking towards the trees.

‘Her friend called the police.’

The court heard that Mellett was ‘constantly masturbating’ as he followed the two women while they walked away from him and used a notebook to periodically cover himself up.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court (pictured) heard how the 59-year-old father-of-two followed them down a high street continuing to ‘play with himself’

Mr Chuni added: ‘They said “he didn’t say anything but repeatedly smirked at us”.’

Mallett has a previous conviction, for exposure, back in 2008, the court heard.

His defence barrister, Jane Hiatt, told the court his latest offence was a ‘cry for help’ and since 2016 Mallett had been ‘working very hard’ and had the ‘weight of the world’ on his shoulders.

She said: ‘During Covid-19 his company struggled financially and he suffered from mental health issues.

‘He wanted to punish himself, and after drinking he went out and committed the offence. He wanted to feel humiliated and feel punished.

‘Following his arrest, he hasn’t drunk any alcohol and he wants to move on with his life.’

As well as community service, the magistrate, Mrs Anne Toomer, also issued Mallett with a £114 victim surcharge and £85 of court costs.

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