July 2013
Serial Sunderland flasher avoids jail
A SERIAL flasher who exposed himself to a woman from a window at his home has avoided jail again after breaching a community order.
Robert Chisnall deliberately flashed his private parts to the shocked passer-by in May 2011, a court heard.
Chisnall already has convictions for exposing himself to young girls in 2001 and 2002.
The 39-year-old Wearsider was convicted by a jury of exposure after a trial at the end of last year.
Chisnall was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for five years.
He was also given a community order for three years with supervision and sex offender group work.
But the dad-of-two, from Rose Street, Millfield, Sunderland, was back at Newcastle Crown Court this week for breaching the order.
It came after he refused to engage with probation and group workers.
Again, he escaped a stint behind bars as Judge Simon Hickey gave him a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Last year, a court was told Chisnall had stood at the window of his home and deliberately exposed himself to a lady of “mature years”.
Prosecutors said the woman was left distressed and offended by his actions.
Judge Hickey told Chisnall: “What’s worrying is that you have become particularly obstructive and you’re not working with the experts on the sex offenders programme.
“They have tried and failed with you, which is why they have initiated breach proceedings.”
The judge added: “The real worry to trying to stop you from committing further offences and to stop you by getting you treated.”
The court heard that Chisnall was convinced he was innocent of the indecent exposure offence.
Judge Hickey was also told that Chisnall was now displaying symptoms of depression, after his partner and children left him.
