A woman who has accused a former police officer – who already has a string of convictions for secretly filming females – of exposing his genitals to her on a Newtown street has told a court she felt she was ‘in danger’.

The complainant was walking home by herself after a night out in Chester on July 5 last year when she claims she saw 41-year-old Kevin Dwyer performing a sex act on himself while he was inside his car.

Dwyer, of Sunny Bank Close in Newton-le-Willows, denies one charge of exposure and told police following his arrest that he had simply been looking for a hotel when he was approached by the complainant.

Previous offences

The second day of his trial at Chester Crown Court today (May 23) heard that Dwyer, who used to be based at the North Manchester division of Greater Manchester Police, is a convicted sex offender, having covertly filmed up women’s skirts and into the homes of some without their consent while he was outside.

Kevin Dwyer arriving at Chester Crown Court to face trial on a charge of exposure. Picture by Andy Kelvin/Kelvinmedia
Kevin Dwyer arriving at Chester Crown Court to face trial on a charge of exposure. Picture by Andy Kelvin/Kelvinmedia

Prosecutor Anna Pope told members of the jury that Dwyer is ‘a man who went out late at night looking for vulnerable and lone women to target them to watch for his own sexual gratification’.

The complainant – who cannot be named for legal reasons – alleges that Dwyer drove past her ‘really slowly’ a few times in his Renault Megane before finally pulling over in a parking bay near where she had been walking on Francis Street at around 4am.

Approach

She decided to confront the driver, believing his behaviour to be a cause for concern.

“Clearly this man was acting suspiciously and being the person I am, I acted on it,” she explained, adding it was potentially ‘stupid’ to approach him but that ‘Dutch courage’ may have played a part as she had been drinking throughout the course of the night.

She recalled that he told her he was looking for Abbots Well but was ‘very matter of fact and on the defensive’ when he spoke.

She suggested he look for directions on Google Maps, but said he seemed ‘reluctant’ to use his phone.

Then she claims she became aware that he was ‘vigorously’ performing a sex act on himself and when she looked again to check she had seen what she thought she had, she said she saw his exposed penis.

Overwhelming fear

“When I saw what he was doing it scared the life out of me,” she said.

“I felt fear and I felt I was in danger.”

During cross-examination of the complainant, defence counsel Simeon Evans asked her why she made a complaint to the police in 2008 that she had been assaulted by her then partner, only to withdraw the allegation later the same day.

After initially saying she did not remember, she explained that the retraction did not mean the allegation was untrue, rather that she did not want any further action to be taken.

The complainant took several pictures of Dwyer’s vehicle and registration number as it drove away from her and called the police at 4.22am.

Dwyer was tracked down at his home address later that morning and arrested.

Defendant's explanation

Miss Pope revealed that the ex-policeman told interviewing officers that he had been in Chester that night to meet a married woman he was having a sexual relationship with, but refused to disclose her identity.

After leaving her house, Dwyer said he decided to look for a hotel he was planning to stay at the next time he was in town for Chester Races, and wanted to buy a new motorbike so was also looking for a Suzuki garage.

He told police that he had not been engaged in any sexual activity in his car and he did not find her attractive as she was too old for him.

The trial continues.