Flasher set for jail term

A SEX offender today faces more time behind bars after exposing himself to a young boy in Felixstowe.

Simon Archer, of Langer Road, Felixstowe, is waiting to be sentenced after pleading guilty to indecent exposure on July 3.

The offence was committed just a week after he was released from prison for engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child in 2007.

Magistrates in Ipswich were told how the 11-year-old victim was cycling to a friend's house when he was approached by Archer at around 4pm.

As the boy crossed the railway bridge in Maidstone Road, Archer pulled down his trousers and exposed himself to him.

However, Archer's solicitor Ian Duckworth, said his client had not said anything to the boy or threatened him.

The boy continued to his mate's house and they went to the park near Grange Farm Avenue, where they saw 21-year-old Archer by the child's play area.

The boy called the police, giving an accurate description of the defendant, and Archer was arrested.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard on Monday how Archer had been sentenced to 21 months for sex offences, including exposure, in December 2007. He was also forced to sign the sex offenders' register.

He was released on licence in August 2008 but was given a suspended sentence after committing an offence a month later.

He was recalled to prison in October 2008 and served the remainder of his prison sentence until his release on June 27.

The flashing incident in Felixstowe has also landed him in breach of his suspended sentence.

Police said they are also investigating other incidents of indecent exposure which he is alleged to have committed in the week after his release from jail.

Magistrates have referred the case to Ipswich Crown Court because they decided they did not have enough power to sentence him.

Have you been the victim of indecent exposure? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk