Vodka-swilling, spade-swinging flasher exposed genitals and made death threats in the street

A vodka-swilling man who exposed himself to a shocked woman from his front window, before flashing police as they arrived to arrest him, has been ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for five years. Drunken David Helens had earlier been spotted swinging a spade in the street by the same witness while drinking from a spirit bottle, leading her to call the police. When he returned to his flat, she saw the 26-year-old pull down his trousers and expose his genitals while ranting that he would ‘kill everyone’. When police were dispatched to his address in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, he flashed officers before making lurid sexual comments in their direction . Helens admitted charges of exposure and using threatening, abusive words or behavior when he appeared before South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The court heard that Helens is seeking support to tackle drink problems, which have fueled his offending. Glenda Beck, prosecuting, said; “At 11.05pm the witness saw Helens run out of his address, carrying a spade and waving it about in a threatening manner. The defendant appeared drunk. She was across the road and called police as she feared for his and her own safety. She later saw him pull down his trousers and expose himself at his front window, shouting ‘I’m going to kill everyone.’
“When he saw the police arrive, he pulled his trousers down again and made sexual comments to the police. He was then arrested.” David Hatfield, defending, said Helens only gets into trouble with the law when he has drank to excess. He said: “When drink is in, wit is out – that is the case with David Helens. When he does not drink there is never any problem with him. His offenses have been caused by him having excessive amounts to drink. He can hardly remember the incident. This must’ve terribly unpleasant for those who witnessed the incidents.” Helens was given a 12-month community order last December after making a malicious 999 call to the ambulance service claiming a friend had been shot in the chest.
But he had been playing a violent video shooting game on his PlayStation and admitted the call was total fantasy after police and the ambulance service were sparked into action. He was given a fresh 12-month community order for his latest offense, with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and must complete a six-month alcohol treatment order. He was also fined £100 and must pay a criminal courts charge of £180, prosecution costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge, as well as having to sign on as a sexual offender until November 2020. Gareth Cracknell, chairman of the magistrates, said: “This is not a very nice thing to do is it. We understand you are engaging with Turning Point (an alcohol misuse support service) about your alcohol issues. What you have done is very stupid. These kind of offenses must stop. We don’t want to see you here again.”