Elgin tradesman placed on sex offenders register after exposing genitals to female client at Moray property

A tradesman who exposed his genitals to a female client has been placed on the sex offenders register for one year.

Dennis Francis, of Manitoba Avenue in Elgin, started his window cleaning business in 2001.

But the 61-year-old’s livelihood and marriage were left in tatters after he exposed himself to a client he had known for two years.

Francis admitted to pulling down his shorts to expose his penis in a “sexual manner” to the 49-year-old client at an address in Mosstodloch during an incident on August 27 this year.

Defence solicitor Megan Lee told Elgin Sheriff Court that Francis was “deeply ashamed” of his actions and that the incident was “out of character” for him.

The solicitor said that while he was alone with the client he had “misread the situation” and acted on “impulse”.

She added that he accepts full responsibility and had acted in a “demeaning way”.

Ms Lee said: “He is no longer able to work as a window cleaner.

“His actions have led to the dissolution of his marriage and the loss of his business.

“This is a lesson which will resonate with him for the rest of his life.”

Ms Lee had argued that Francis should not be placed on the sex offenders register because his actions were not serious enough to merit such a measure.

She highlighted the fact that Francis had no previous convictions.

Sheriff Gordon Fleetwood disagreed, however, and placed Francis on the sex offenders register for a period of one year.

He also imposed a one year supervision order.