A man, Jonathan Keegan, indecently exposed himself and engaged in a sexual act near a school, according to court testimony. Jonathan Keegan has a dozen prior charges of indecent exposure and public indecency on his record; nevertheless, a seasoned probation officer has been unable to ascertain the underlying causes of his behaviour.
A judge sentenced 53-year-old Jonathan Keegan to prison, stating that there appeared to be no indication of him ceasing his actions. He cautioned the offender that if he persists in his offences, the courts would impose increasingly lengthy incarcerations.
Swansea Crown Court was informed that the defendant’s most recent offence occurred at approximately 3 PM on October 3 of this year in a park adjacent to a school in Neath. The court was informed that a woman observed Jonathan Keegan in the vicinity with his genitalia exposed and engaging in self-pleasure.
The court acknowledged that although children were present in the vicinity returning home from school, the offence did not occur in their sight. The police were notified of the incident, resulting in the defendant’s detention.
Jonathan Patrick Keegan, residing on Meadow Road, Melin, Neath, had earlier entered a guilty plea for exposure and for violating a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) during his sentencing appearance in court. The court was informed that he has prior convictions for seven counts of indecent exposure, seven counts of violating a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO), and five counts of outraging public decency.
David Singh, representing Keegan, characterised the defendant’s criminal history as “unenviable,” deeming this description a “understatement,” and said that even the seasoned author of the pre-sentence report could not obtain any substantial understanding of the defendant’s conduct.
Judge Paul Thomas KC stated that although the defendant was evidently under the influence of alcohol or drugs on that day, even a seasoned probation officer could not ascertain the underlying causes of Jonathan Keegan’s actions. He stated that there seemed to be little indication that Keegan’s longstanding behaviour would alter, and he informed the defendant that if he persisted in offending similarly, the courts would impose increasingly lengthy terms.
Jonathan Keegan received a sentence of two years and eight months in jail, following a one-third reduction for his guilty pleas. He will serve a maximum of half that sentence in confinement before being released on probation to complete the remaining in the community. He will be classified as a registered sex offender for the subsequent seven years.
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