What This Man Did on a Beach and in a Busy Park While Women Jogged and Children Played Nearby Left People Horrified

A man who carried out sexual acts in public, harassed women jogging and chased a woman riding a bicycle has been sent to prison.

Menkories Sahle was first arrested after several reports about his behaviour on Swansea beach. However, he was not charged at the time. He later carried out another sexual act in a busy Swansea park while children were playing nearby.

Swansea Crown Court heard that on the morning of November 11, 2024, police received several calls about a man behaving in a disturbing way on Swansea beach. Members of the public reported seeing him touching himself, exposing part of his body and approaching female joggers.

He was also accused of troubling dogs and chasing a woman who was cycling near the Secret bar on the seafront. Witnesses said he was dancing around and throwing a log.

Women who saw his behaviour began warning other women on the beach while waiting for the police to arrive. Officers later found Sahle in the car park behind the Secret bar and arrested him.

The court was told that Sahle had left a mental health hospital without permission earlier that day. On his way to the beach, he damaged several parked cars. He was charged and sentenced for the criminal damage, but no action was taken at the time over the reports about his behaviour on the beach.

The prosecutor said there was no clear explanation for why he was not charged over the beach incident until this year.

A second incident happened in Cwmdonkin Park in Swansea on May 4. Sahle was seen near the tennis courts and café with his hands inside his shorts while children were playing nearby.

At one point, a football was kicked towards him. He returned the ball to the children while still keeping his hands down the front of his shorts.

A concerned woman challenged the 27-year-old about his behaviour. Prosecutors said Sahle then lifted his T-shirt and lowered his shorts, exposing the top of his pubic area to her.

The incident was reported, and police officers quickly arrived and arrested him in the park. When officers asked what he had been doing, he replied: “Chilling.”

Sahle, of Terrace Road in Mount Pleasant, Swansea, was found guilty after a magistrates’ court trial of two counts of outraging public decency. He later appeared at Swansea Crown Court to be sentenced.

The court heard that he had five previous convictions covering 11 offences, including being being drunk and disorderly and causing criminal drunk and disorderly and damage.

In 2023, causing criminal damage.

In 2023, he he was sentenced was to three years in prison sentenced to three years in prison for for possessing heroin possessing heroin and cocaine with and the intention cocaine with the of supplying them intention of supplying them in in Staffordshire. He Stafford was still onshire. He was still on licence following that sentence licence following that sentence when when the Swansea beach incident the happened Swansea beach incident happened.

His lawyer,.

His lawyer, Ryan Bowen Ryan, said Sahle was born Bowen, said Sahle was born in Eritrea and came in Eritrea and came to Britain at the age to of Britain at the age of 16 in16 search of better in search of better opportunities, work and education opportunities, work and.

education.

MrMr Bowen said Bowen said the offences the and much of Sahle offences and much of Sahle’s criminal history were connected’s to his mental criminal history were connected to his mental health problems health. The problems. The court heard court that Sahle had been diagnosed heard that Sahle had been diagnosed with with drug-induced psychosis and had drug-induced psychosis and had been given been medication given medication, but, but he had not been taking it.

Judge he had not been taking it.

Paul Thomas KC said SahleJudge Paul Thomas KC said Sahle had carried out sexual had acts carried out sexual acts in public in on two public on two separate occasions in separate occasions in places regularly used by women places, regularly children and used by women, children and families.

The families.

The judge judge noted that Sahle had noted that Sahle had been been arrested arrested following the 2024 beach incident, but it appeared that nothing following had been the 2024 beach incident, but it done appeared that nothing about had it been done about at that time it at that time.

He.

He also also considered Sahle’s mental health problems considered Sahle’s mental. However, an health problems. However, an experienced probation officer had experienced concluded that Sahle probation officer had concluded that Sah could not currently be safely managedle could in the not currently be safely managed in the community. The community. judge therefore The judge said there was no realistic alternative therefore said there was no realistic alternative to sending to sending him straight to prison.

him straight to prison.

SahleSahle was sentenced to was 15 months in prison sentenced to 15 months in prison. He will serve 40 per. cent He will serve 40 per cent of the of the sentence behind sentence bars before being released on licence behind bars before being released on to licence to complete the rest in the community.

complete the rest in theHe was also given community.

He was also given a sexual harm prevention a order lasting four years sexual harm prevention order lasting four years. However., the However, the court heard that court heard he will not that he will not be placed on the sex be placed on the sex offenders register because outr offendersaging public decency register because outraging public decency is is not covered by the relevant law not.

covered by the relevant law.

AfterAfter the sentencing the sentencing,, South Wales South Wales Police Police explained explained why Sahle why was not charged after his Sahle was not charged after his arrest in 2024 arrest in 2024.. A spokesman A spokesman said there said there was not enough was not enough evidence evidence because none of the because none of the witnesses witnesses interviewed had directly seen interviewed had directly seen the the alleged sexual act alleged sexual act.. Officers had Officers had only only received reports received passed reports passed on through other people on. through other people.