A woman who exposed herself to a group of children in a Lancaster park has been jailed.
Laura Mart, 35, who is a transgender woman, appeared before Preston Sessions House, charged with one count of indecent exposure and breaching a sexual harm prevention order.
The incident occurred on July 18, when the defendant, of Game Street, Great Harwood, was walking in Williamson Park, in Wyresdale Road.
A child who was playing on the monkey bars in the park saw Mart holding her penis and wiggling it at her, and she immediately told her friends and father.
At the time of the offence, Mart was subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order and was prohibited from standing within 10 metres of a public place where children are expected to be.
The defendant has a history of similar offences, with four exposure convictions and an indecency charge in 2017.
Judge Andrew Jeffries outlined that due to the repetitive nature of her offending, he had considered an extended licence, but this was impossible under the guidelines for the offences.
He said: “There is a real risk posed here to the public.
"If I had the power for an extended licence, I would have taken it, but it is not such an offence.”
Rebecca Holmes, mitigating, said Mart did not go to the park with the intention of committing the offence, but she "couldn’t control the urge she had there".
Ms Holmes also explained that while being transgender was no excuse for the offence, it is a complex thing to deal with.
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She said: “She is transgender and identifies as a woman.
"There is no excuse for this offence, and it is a complex thing to deal with, and they have to wake up feeling they are in the wrong body.
“There is a clear path of offending, and since her last offence she has suppressed her libido, and it is to her credit she takes this and makes efforts to improve her behaviour.
“It demonstrates she is willing to comply with any intervention whilst in custody, which I do submit is a positive for her, and there can be improvements in her offending.”
When sentencing, Judge Jeffries said the defendant's frankness with the probation service was a double-edged sword, and whilst it was refreshing she recognised the issues she had, it also exposed the danger that she posed.
Mart was sentenced to 28 months' imprisonment with a notification requirement applied for life.
