Man Prohibited from Entering Children's Playgrounds After Offending Act

A man has been sentenced to prison after being recorded engaging in indecent conduct near a children's playground.

Andrew Lewis, 55, was observed exposing himself to children on two separate occasions during the summer in Oakdale, Caerphilly county borough, South Wales.

On June 1, 2025, Lewis was filmed while standing on the decking of his garden that overlooks a play area. Two children, aged 11 and 12, captured footage of him while he was pleasuring himself.

During a sentencing session at Newport Crown Court, Judge Carl Harrison highlighted that the video depicted Lewis in the act while staring towards the nearby play area situated at Auckland Close in the Penmaen part of Oakdale.

The judge remarked, “You were in an elevated position from which there was an unobstructed view of the playground.”

More than a month later, on July 23, 2025, two 12-year-olds reported that they saw Lewis exposing and touching himself in his back garden while watching them, according to Wales Online.

Judge Harrison stated that Lewis deliberately exposed himself for visibility before engaging in acts of masturbation.

Lewis, residing on Auckland Close, faced conviction for a charge of participating in sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 13, and another for exposure, both stemming from a trial held in September last year.

He received a sentence totaling 25 months in prison, with 20 months attributed to the sexual activity charge and five months for the exposure charge.

In addition to his prison time, Lewis was ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge and is now subject to a notification requirement and a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) for a duration of 10 years.

The stipulations of the SHPO prohibit Lewis from staying in any home where a child under 16 is present, and he is barred from allowing any individual under 16 on his property unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

He is also mandated to wear “normal clothing” while in his garden and is forbidden from any contact with children under the age of 16, except where consent is granted or such contact is a regular part of daily life.

Furthermore, Lewis was informed that entering any playgrounds or play areas would be considered a violation of the order.