A man has been jailed for 15 months for outraging public decency on a Swansea beach and in a park. Menkories Sahle, 27, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after being found guilty of two counts of outraging public decency.
Beach incident
The court heard that on the morning of November 11, 2024, police received numerous reports about a man masturbating on Swansea beach, exposing himself, approaching female joggers, and antagonising dogs. The man was also seen chasing a woman on her bike near the seafront Secret bar, and dancing around while throwing a log. Female witnesses began alerting other women on the beach about the man's actions.
Officers located Sahle in the car park behind the Secret bar and arrested him. Earlier that day, he had fled from a mental health hospital and damaged several parked cars on his way to the beach. He was charged and sentenced for the criminal damage offences, but no action was taken regarding the beach behaviour until this year.
Park incident
The second incident occurred in Swansea's Cwmdonkin Park on May 4 this year. Sahle was seen near the tennis courts and cafe with his hands in his shorts rubbing himself while children played nearby. When a ball was kicked in his direction, he returned it to the children while keeping his hands down the front of his shorts. When confronted by a woman worried about his behaviour, he lifted his t-shirt and lowered his shorts to reveal the top of his pubic hair.
Police arrested him in the park. When asked what he was doing, Sahle replied: "Chilling".
Background and sentencing
Sahle, from Terrace Road, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, has five previous convictions for 11 offences, including being drunk and disorderly and criminal damage. In 2023, he received a three-year prison sentence for possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply. He was out on licence when he committed the beach offences.
Ryan Bowen, representing Sahle, said his client was born in Eritrea and arrived in the UK at 16 seeking better prospects. He said the offences were linked to his mental health, noting a diagnosis of drug-induced psychosis for which he had been prescribed medication, though he had not been taking it.
Judge Paul Thomas KC noted that an experienced probation officer had concluded Sahle cannot be managed in the community at present and that immediate custody was the only realistic option. Sahle was sentenced to 15 months, to serve 40 per cent in custody before release on licence. He was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for four years. He will not be subject to sex offenders notification requirements, as outraging public decency is not an offence under the relevant legislation.
Following sentencing, a South Wales Police spokesman said that after the 2024 arrest, no further action was taken due to lack of evidence, as none of the witnesses had seen the alleged offending directly and could only provide third-hand reports.
