A FLASHER who performed a sex act while watching children as young as four playing outside with friends has been jailed.

Gary McCallum, of Oldham Street, Latchford, was sentenced to two years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, March 8, after admitting a string of sex offences.

The 44-year-old was arrested on November 29 after Cheshire Police launched an investigation into a man who exposed himself in Golden Square Shopping Centre.

The court heard how an eight-year-old girl was shopping with her mum and grandma in Primark on Sunday, November 20, between 3.15pm and 4pm.

It was during this that time that she was approached by McCallum who exposed himself while she was looking at a jumper.

Derek Jones, prosecuting, said: "He then asked her if she had seen a boy's penis before and asked her if she wanted to see it again.

"She said 'go away' and at that point he said 'you have not seen anything'.

"This was interpreted as a warning not to tell anyone."

A short time later an 11-year-old girl was shopping with her 13-year-old friend in Debenhams.

While walking through the toy section in the department store she saw McCallum perform a sex act.

Following CCTV enquiries the defendant was identified and arrested.

During a police interview he admitted to the offences and said he was 'disgusted by his actions'.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Jones said the eight-year-old victim had 'regressed in confidence'.

He said: "The victim has struggled to sleep since the incident and had nightmares as she sees him in her dreams.

"She gets up in the middle of the night and her mum stays with her until she falls asleep but she is still worried about what she will see."

This is not the first time McCallum has been detained for committing this type of offence.

On July 13 at Mold Crown Court, he was handed a three-year community order and a sexual harm prevention order.

He was also told to carry out a sexual offenders' treatment programme.

The court heard how the defendant was walking his dog on May 13 at 6pm in Wrexham when he stopped two metres away from a garden where a four-year-old girl was playing with her friends.

He exposed himself and started to perform a sex act.

The incident was reported to the police after the young girl’s horrified mother spotted McCallum from the window of the house.

Days later he was spotted performing a sex act by an 11-year-old girl who was playing in the back garden with her 13-year-old friend.

The police launched an investigation and the defendant was identified.

A raid was carried out at his home and following a search his laptop was seized.

A forensic examination of the electronic device was carried out and indecent photographs and films of children were uncovered.

McCallum, who has been struggling with depression since the breakdown of his marriage, could be seen crying in the dock as his defence team revealed he had not received any help from the sex offenders’ treatment programme due to a one-year waiting list.

But Judge Steven Everett said he had no option but to send McCallum to prison.

He said: "He had his chance but he did not take it.

"There is no alternative option."

McCallum was sentenced to two years in prison for exposure, outraging public decency and breaching the conditions of a sexual harm prevention order.