'Impotent' father of nine denies being a flasher
A father of nine claimed in court he was impotent as he faced an allegation of public indecency in a car on the banks of the Caledonian Canal on Mothers Day last year.
Rodger Griffiths, from Shakespeare Road, Cheltenham claimed in court he had jumped off a bridge and broke his back in four places which rendered him impotent in 2011.
He denied on March 18, last year, committing an act of public indecency parked beside a boat yard at Dochgarroch by exposing himself in clear view of members of the public.
Griffiths (47), a first offender appeared from custody after his failure to appear at an earlier hearing.
He also claimed in his defence when he was spotted in the car by a family who were out for a picnic he was rubbing ointment on to himself to treat a skin condition.
Witness David Bird (61) told the court he had been out for a walk in the woods at Dochgarroch with his wife, Aileen, and their young daughter for a Mother’s Day picnic.
As they returned to the barge where they live on the canal at Dochgarroch about 2pm, he said both he and his wife saw Griffiths committing a sexual act on himself in the passenger's seat of the Ford Focus.
Mr Bird said his wife stayed with their daughter and he went up to the car and knocked on the window.
Griffiths was alone in the car and Mr Bird told Depute fiscal Heather Swan he saw no sign of ointment in the car and Griffiths covered himself up very quickly.
He said it was an area used by walkers, cyclists, joggers, cruise boats and people from the boats in the canal.
He reported the matter to the British Waterways Board who told him it was a police matter and he then informed the police.
Mrs Bird a support worker with children at a local primary school and mother of four told Sheriff David Sutherland: "I could see quite clearly what was happening. I know it’s a remote area but you get a lot of people walking there."
Griffiths, in his defence, said he was living on a boat with a family friend and he had been impotent since jumping from a bridge which resulted in him breaking his back in four places.
He claimed he also suffered from eczema, a skin condition which he treated himself for using ointments he purchased himself.
He said he had not discussed either matter with his GP because he was embarrassed by these conditions.
Griffiths said he was sore in his groin area and had been applying the ointment when he was seen by the witnesses.
He told the court he could not do this in the boat because he didn’t have privacy there.
Sheriff David Sutherland said he was satisfied the Crown had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Marc Dickson defending told the court Griffiths was separated and a father of nine children.
Sheriff Sutherland remanded Griffiths in custody pending reports until September 6.
