Bail for Belfast ‘flasher’ altered to allow Christian Fellowship visits

A Belfast man accused of exposing himself to female students in the university area of the city had his bail altered to allow him to attend Christian Fellowship meetings.

Jason Leonard Shaw (45), from Coolfin Street, is facing four charges of exposing himself on dates in August and October 2014.

He has already been granted bail with several conditions imposed - which include a ban on him entering an “exclusion zone” in the Queen’s and Botanic area where he is alleged to have carried out the offences.

His solicitor Jonathan Burke made an application to vary his client’s bail to allow him to enter the “exclusion zone” once a week to attend a Christian Fellowship meeting on University Avenue.

Mr Burke said that during the meeting, Mr Shaw would be accompanied by a chaparone from the Fellowship, adding that his client used this service when he was a remand prisoner.

Crown prosecutor Simon Jenkins said police were objecting to the bail variation on the grounds there was a fear he would commit further offences.

Mr Jenkins was also concerned the chaparone may not be able to monitor Mr Shaw during for all of the weekly meetings. The fear of further offending was set against a backdrop of Queen’s University being “in session at present”, he said.

Judge Gordon Kerr QC expressed reluctance at denying someone the opportunity to attend such a meeting, and agreed to vary Mr Shaw’s bail.

The judge did, however, order Mr Shaw to stay in the company of the chaparone, telling Mr Burke his client was “not allowed to leave the premises.”