A prolific ‘flasher’ who carried out more than 170 offences over half a century has been jailed again.
Paul Smith, 65, was arrested most recently after flashing at people on a bus in Manchester City Centre in April last year.
The former Horwich man, now of no fixed address, had previously been linked to similar crimes in West Yorkshire.
Detective Inspector John Chatterton, of Greater Manchester Police’s Sex Offender Management Unit, said: “Incidents such as these can cause real distress to any victim and Paul Smith subjected many innocent people to his indecent acts.
“Everyone should feel safe to use public transport and this type of behaviour is completely inappropriate and can impact someone’s personal sense of security.”
Smith had more than 170 offences to his name when he was arrested last year, with his first conviction having been handed down in 1972 when he was just 14.
He had previously come to public attention in Bolton after an incident in 2013 when he was attacked by an enraged group of neighbours in the Barkerend area of Bradford, where he had travelled to by bike and train from his home on Gorton Fold, Horwich.
They attacked him after he exposed himself to a then primary school aged girl as she played in her garden.
He was jailed for four years in January 2014 for exposing himself to the girl.
At the time Smith was already banned from travelling on trains.
Now, more than nine years on he was arrested again following the Manchester incident when the bus driver quickly alerted police.
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DI Chatterton said: “The tireless work our offender managers commit to each day has led to Paul Smith serving a lengthy jail sentence.
“This involves a number of proactive tactics and the management of stringent conditions whilst in the community.
“This reinforces GMP’s commitment to reducing harm and keeping people safe.”
Brought before Manchester Crown Court on Tuesday June 27, Smith was sentenced to six years in prison.
He also received court orders and a mandatory therapy programme, including remaining on the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life and must sign the Sex Offender Register.
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