Twisted Endcliffe Park flasher who subjected 13 women to lewd acts over eight months finally snared
A persistent flasher whose reign of terror at a Sheffield park saw him expose himself and commit “vile” indecent acts in front of 13 different women has finally been snared.
Ian Develin targeted “young women” on each of the eight occasions when he struck at Endcliffe Park over eight-months from November 2024 to July 2025.
The 64-year-old invariably hid in bushes or shrubbery before exposing himself and performing an indecent act in front of horrified women, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
Jailing Develin for two years, eight months, The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, told him: “You repeatedly and deliberately went into Endcliffe Park and exposed [yourself] to young women, all of whom were deeply offended and appalled by what you did.”
Judge Richardson also issued a restraining order banning him from Endcliffe Park for eight years. Develin was warned that any breaches of the order could see him jailed for another five years’.
The sentencing, held today (December 23, 2025), heard how Develin made eye contact with his victims as he carried out the acts.
During some, women were alerted to his presence by the sound of groaning. In one of the incidents, Develin made lascivious comments to the woman he targeted, detailing his twisted and sexual fantasy, as he continued his lewd behaviour.
A total of 13 women were named as having been exposed to Develin’s depravity, all of whom are entitled to lifelong anonymity.
Judge Richardson praised the actions of one who had the presence of mind to take a photograph of Develin, which assisted police in their investigation.
Develin’s record, the court was told, contains “many previous convictions for identical offending,” with him most recently being sentenced in March this year.
He received a community order on that occasion, the court heard, and was subject to that order when he committed four of eight of his most recent set of offences.
Judge Richardson found Develin, formerly of Rowan Road, Eckington, Sheffield, had “displayed comprehensive disregard” for previous court orders to continue in his “vile” behaviour in a public park.
“In the midst of this tranche of offending you were sentenced by a court…you paid absolutely no attention to the court. You carried on as you were doing before, frightening and troubling young women exposing yourself and [pleasuring yourself] in front of them.”
“The consequences for the victims - as set out in their victim personal statements - has been very unpleasant and serious for them. You’ve badly affected them,” he said.
Judge Richardson described Endcliffe Park, off Ecclesall Road in the west of the city, as a “delightful” public amenity, enjoyed by many citizens, including children and families.
“It is also the location of a war memorial, stemming from the Second World War.”
“It is a place of great dignity…that is the location you chose to commit these utterly vile offences,” Judge Richardson said.
Develin pleaded guilty to six counts of exposure, one count of outraging public decency and one count of using threatening / abusive / insulting words / behaviour to cause harassment / alarm / distress at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing Develin, Judge Richardson said “public protection” - along with punishment for his crimes - was at the forefront of his mind.
He said numerous factors had allowed him to deviate from the sentencing guidelines and pass a longer sentence including exposure, which carries a maximum term of two years’ imprisonment.
They included the “persistent” nature of Develin’s offending over several months; his numerous convictions for “identical offending,” the “critical” need to protect the public and his flagrant disregard for previous court orders.
In reaching the uplifted sentence of two years, eight months’ custody, Judge Richardson said he had taken Develin’s mitigation into consideration.
They included his guilty pleas, something which Develin’s barrister, Curtis Dunkley, suggested was the strongest point in his favour.
Other points highlighted by the judge was the fact Develin had experienced a recent bereavement, the breakdown of his marriage and the deterioration of his mental health.
He noted that Develin has previously sought psychological help to combat what the judge termed as Develin’s “vile urges to expose himself”
Develin failed to do that, however, during his most recent catalogue of offences.
Sending Develin to begin his sentence, Judge Richardson told him he must also remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.