School trip '˜ruined' by naked flasher in Ashfield park

Sightings have been reported on Facebook after “a naked man emerged from the undergrowth and performed a lewd sex act upon himself in broad daylight”, on the morning of Thursday, July 21.

Nottinghamshire Police officers came out in force, with witnesses saying some 10 officers and two police cars were seen in the area on the day, although nobody has been arrested.

The incident has prompted a warning for walkers to exercise caution while out in the forest.

Councillor Lee Anderson said: “I urge everybody, especially women and children, to be extra vigilant and if they do see any suspicious naked characters – they should not approach them and ring 101 straight away.

“Don’t let this man spoil your days out on Brierley.”

A 19-year-old woman, from Sutton, claimed she saw the same man two days previously, on July 19.

She said: “He was behind the visitor centre, stood in the tree line. I reported it to the police, but he wasn’t there when the police got there.”

A group of children from Huthwaite All Saints’ CofE Infant School were out in the forest when police alerted teachers to the situation, prompted them to leave.

Ali Lakin, a classroom assistant at the school, said: “A lady came up with two police officers and escorted us off the park. The children weren’t told what was going on but they were disappointed.

“He ruined our day, but I thought ‘we’ve got all these children here, what would we do if we saw him’.”

A woman who must remain anonymous for legal reasons said her daughter-in-law was the young lady who fell victim to the alleged sex offender. The Huthwaite woman said: “She didn’t stop to get a good look at him obviously but she thinks he was middle aged and had grey hair. We have all been shocked and upset by it but have agreed we won’t let this spoil our enjoyment of the beautiful Brierley Park.”

Police confirmed reports of a man acting suspiciously in Brierley Park and conducted a search, but he was not located and no arrest has been made.