Driver flashed at five women; DAD EXPOSED HIMSELF WHILE DRIVING WIFE'S BMW.

Byline: LINDA RICHARDS

A FATHER exposed himself to a string of women.

Driving his wife's silver BMW convertible, Tony Barker stopped at the kerbside and flashed to five women in the space of 20 days.

Despite being shocked and disgusted, his victims were able to give police a description of the 27-year-old and his car with its private registration number. Shame-faced and remorseful for the ordeal he put the women through, Barker pleaded guilty to all charges when he made his first appearance before Gateshead magistrates.

Barker, of Gray's Street, South Shields, admitted four counts of exposure and asked for a fifth to be taken into consideration.

Prosecutor Justin Gibson said Barker's victims were all in their late teens or early 20s and approached him when he pulled up beside them because they thought he was going to ask for directions.

And that Barker told police he targeted them because they were there and they were all attractive.

His spree started on May 19 when he flashed to a 19-year-old woman outside the gates of Shiney Row College; on May 27, his second victim, aged 22, was standing at a bus stop on Old Durham Road, Gateshead; his third, aged 20, was with a friend, also aged 20, walking along Great North Road, Newcastle, on June 3, and his fourth, aged 20, was walking on Kells Lane, Low Fell, on June 8. In statements to the police the women spoke of their "shock", "upset" and "disgust".

One told of feeling degraded, another said her trust in strangers has been damaged, another is apprehensive about going out and the fourth was worried that it could have happened to a young girl.

Defending Chris Kyle said Barker is embarrassed but doesn't know why he did it.

"He was under a great deal of personal strain at that time, both in his home life and at work, but recognises that this does not justify him behaving in that manner," said Mr Kyle.

The offences, he said, have caused enormous distress to his family who can't understand why he has acted this way. Since it happened, he has moved out of the marital home at Glebe, Washington, and is trying to work things out with his wife.

He added: "He is extremely apologetic to those he knows he has caused distress.

"He is a married man, and this is not something that he would like to happen to his own wife, but he can offer no explanation why he behaved as he did."

JPs adjourned sentence for three weeks for probation reports to be prepared.

CAPTION(S):

PLEADED GUILTY: Tony Barker admitted to exposure at Gateshead Magistrates' Court