A SEX offender who played with himself in front of a child walked free in a busy Worcester street after he was granted bail.

David Power was pictured strolling along Foregate Street in Worcester after he admitted exposure and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child.

The 31-year-old of Pulley Avenue, Eaton Bishop, Herefordshire pleaded guilty to carrying out both offences on August 2, 2018 when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday.

The most serious offence involved him engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child ‘for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification’. The particulars are that he knowingly engaged in sexual activity, namely masturbation, ‘by the river in Hereford’ in the presence of a child under 16, namely 13, knowing or intending the child should be aware that he was engaged in that activity. The case was prosecuted by Timothy Sapwell who appeared over videolink. Jason Aris appeared in person at court on behalf of Power.

Judge Martin Jackson adjourned the case so a pre-sentence report could be prepared, granting bail on condition Power co-operate with the probation service in preparing that report.

Power faces an additional exposure charge from January this year. His advocate said Power is expected to plead guilty at Kidderminster Magistrates Court on May 12. “I anticipate a guilty plea to that allegation as well” said Mr Aris.

In relation to the crown court matters, Mr Aris explained that he'd had a ‘productive conference with his client last week’ and had given him ‘clear advice about the strength of the evidence’ and that he now wished to change his pleas to guilty. The judge warned Power that, as a convicted sex offender, notification requirements now applied and that he must register with the police within the next three days. Power was told he must provide details to police including his name, date of birth, any aliases, his National Insurance number and any other addresses he used. “If you fail to comply with notification requirements, that is a criminal offence in its own right carrying up to five years in prison,” the judge warned.

Judge Jackson also told the defendant that if he changed his address or any other detail he must notify police. The sentence hearing was adjourned until Wednesday, June 16.