Former Sheffield United striker narrowly avoids jail after exposing himself to woman and teenage girl

The 45-year-old, who helped the Blades win promotion to the Premier League in 2006, exposed himself and masturbated in front of a mother while she walked along a street with her teenage daughter.

He was sentenced to a community order for his actions when he appeared at court yesterday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

Shipperley admitted exposing his genitals from inside his van as he drove alongside a woman and teenage girl in west London, Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard.

The mother was left feeling ‘disgusted’ by the incident on Station Road in Hayes on the afternoon of September 17 this year, it was claimed.

Prosecutor Shaan Sethi told the court Shipperley drove his van up to the victim and her 16-year-old daughter, wound down his window and stopped the vehicle.

Mr Sethi said the pair had turned to thank Shipperley for letting them cross the road but ‘they then noticed he was holding his penis in his hand and staring directly at them’.

They walked away from the vehicle, with Shipperley following in his van as he approached a set of traffic lights, the court heard.

“He continued to stare at the two women this time while masturbating,” Mr Sethi told the court, adding that the pair tried to take a photo of his number plate,” he said.

Mr Sethi added: “While the mother was on the phone to the police... they saw the defendant had parked himself between two buses further down the street, again staring at the two while masturbating.”

Shipperley later encountered the mother and daughter again when he voluntarily arrived at a police station and apologised, the court was told.

At his first court appearance last month, the ex-footballer pleaded guilty to a charge of intentionally exposing his genitals intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress.

In a victim impact statement the mother said: “Some people may see flashers as pests or a nuisance to society, my view of Neil Shipperley is as a predator.

“His aim was to intimidate us, to violate us, to shock us and to scare us.”

She added: “My 16-year-old daughter was horrified and kept asking me ‘mum what would have happened if I was on my own and you weren't with me’?”

In her statement, the woman claimed Shipperley told her at the police station that if someone had done what he did to his own son ‘he would want to kill them’.

Mitigating for Shipperley, Sarah O'Kane said: “He has expressed anguish, embarrassment, shame, but above all remorse.”

“He is in short appalled by his actions and he wishes to apologise unreservedly to the complaint in this case.”

She explained Shipperley had sought counselling and had been dealing with personal issues including the death of his father, gambling and debts.

“Everything came to a crescendo on the day in question,” she said. “This was, he thinks on reflection, a cry for help.”

Shipperley, who also played for Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Southampton during his career, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and British nationality during Wednesday’s court hearing.

Wearing a grey suit with a dark patterned tie, he gave little reaction as he was sentenced.

Chairwoman of the magistrates’ bench Sheila Evans told him he had committed a ‘serious offence’ that had left his victim ‘appalled’.

Shipperley, of West Drayton, west London, who has no previous convictions, was ordered to complete a 12-month community order, which includes a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He must also complete 120 hours’ unpaid work and pay a £90 victim surcharge, £85 in costs and £200 in compensation.

He is subject to a five-year sexual offences notification requirement order and must report to Hayes police station within three days.