A PENSIONER has been handed an ASBO which stops him leaving his house unless he is wearing trousers with his flies done up.

Harold Gerrard was given the Antisocial Behaviour order at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday after he was caught performing an indecent act in his car.

He was parked in Osler Road, near a nursery in Headington, Oxford, when he was spotted by a bus driver on February 27.

Gerrard, 66, admitted the charge at a hearing last month and magistrates handed him the ASBO yesterday which also prevents him from being near childrens’ play areas, nurseries or schools, and stops him exposing his genitals or carrying any kind of binoculars.

It was heard in court he had previous history of being near parks, and student accommodation in posession of binoculars.

At last month’s hearing his solicitor Charlotte Frizzell said Gerrard, of Barton Road, Oxford, had no interest in children but got pleasure from seeing “attractive women” and had a very high sex drive.

The court heard Gerrard had lost his rail manager’s job due to the crime.

Yesterday, prosecutor Ann Sawyer-Brandish said: “The witness was driving in Osler Road when he saw Mr Gerrard in his car with his shirt unbuttoned, clearly [performing an indecent act].

“He stopped and approached the driver of that vehicle.

“As a result he said he felt shocked and sickened. He parked the vehicle and confronted him about his behaviour.”

Speaking after the hearing, Pc Mike Ellis said he hoped the Asbo would reassure the public.

He said it was the first time he had been involved in an order which had the specific terms of having to wear trousers “appropriately fastened”.

He said: “Because Asbos must be enforceable and reasonable and it must be specific, we had to think long and hard about the wording of this particular order to make it clear exactly what he should and shouldn’t do.”

Pc Ellis added: “I think the order that we set was proportionate considering the incident and the background of his previous behaviour.

“Orders of this nature are intended to protect the public from this type of behaviour and no-one should have to see this type of thing.

“My hope would be that parents would be reassured that they are unlikely to encounter this behaviour from Mr Gerrard and glad to hear he is also seeking help to tackle his problems, as it is about support as well as protection.”

Gerrard must sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. He was also given a three-year community order, with supervision and a requirement to attend the Thames Valley sexual offending group work programme.

He must also pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

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