A MAN indecently exposed himself to passers-by including women and children in Darwen town centre.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when a member of the public told Graham Sharratt to "put it away" he made even more of an exhibition of himself.

Sharratt, 49, of Malton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to indecent exposure and was given a conditional discharge for six months and ordered to pay £40 costs.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said a man was parking his car in Darwen town centre when he saw Sharratt walking along the pavement exposing himself through his open trousers.

"The man instructed Sharratt to put it away, but he turned away and faced the market hall through some railings," said Mr Snape.

"He did not make any attempt to put it away, in fact he rested his arms on the railings." Mr Snape said there were women and children around and a passing police car was flagged down and Sharratt arrested.

Paul Garner, defending, said Sharratt had no previous convictions and the offence was totally out of character. He said Sharratt had been to a funeral in Darwen and afterwards had consumed a large amount of alcohol in the Cemetery pub.

Mr Garner said Sharratt had then walked into the town centre and gone in another pub where he was assaulted in the toilets.

"He can only put his offence down to the amount of alcohol, the assault and the upset of the funeral," said Mr Garner.

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