Home   News   Article

Impotent father of nine jailed for public indecency





Griffiths claimed his was impotent after being injured in a bridge jump
Griffiths claimed his was impotent after being injured in a bridge jump

A sheriff has jailed a father of nine who committed an act of public indecency in a car parked beside the Caledonian Canal at Dochgarroch.

Roger Griffiths claimed he was impotent after jumping from a bridge and breaking his back in four places.

But husband and wife David and Aileen Bird who had been out for a Mother’s Day picnic at a local wood told a trial at Inverness last month told Sheriff David Sutherland they were in no doubt as to what Griffiths was doing to himself in the front passenger seat of a friend’s car.

Griffiths, (47), of Shakespeare Road, Cheltenham had pleaded not guilty to committing an act of public indecency parked beside a boat yard at Dochgarroch by exposing himself in clear view of members of the public.

The offence took place on March 18.

Griffiths, a first offender, appeared from custody after his failure to appear at an earlier hearing.

He claimed in his defence when he was spotted by the couple, who had their 11 year-old daughter with them, 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.

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 passengers seat of the Ford Focus. The couple said they were descending from a hill and had a clear view of what had happened.

Mr Bird said his wife stayed with their daughter and he went up to the car and knocked on the window.

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.

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 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 had not discussed either matter with his GP because he was embarrassed by these conditions.

After being found guilty his solicitor Marc Dickson revealed Griffiths was a father of nine.

Sentence was deferred for reports and Mr Dickson asked for the matter to be dealt with by a financially penalty.

But Sheriff jailed Griffiths for four months, backdated to July 17 when he was taken into custody.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.


This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More