A MAN who exposed himself to a prison officer has been jailed and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

Christopher McKenzie, 37, was put behind bars after pleading guilty to breaching a restraining order and exposure – a charge which he had previously denied.

Outlining the offences at Workington Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Pamela Fee said McKenzie had exposed himself to the officer while being transferred between prisons last year.

The officer had then witnessed the defendant carrying out a lewd sex act under his clothing.

Then on June 10, a 999 call was made by a woman who has a restraining order against McKenzie. She said he had breached the order and he was sat in the bus stop outside Booths in Keswick.

The woman went over to McKenzie and told him to leave her alone. He told her he missed her.

The court heard that McKenzie is not allowed to have any contact with the woman or to go within 100m of her.

Police located him at the bus stop and he was arrested. He made ‘no comment’ throughout police interview.

Ms Fee said there was a previous exposure incident on the defendant’s record.

John Cooper, defending, said: “There are serious mental health issues. He was sectioned. He’s very recently been released.

“He was staying at the Bowling Green [Hostel]. He had gone through to Keswick to see his dad.

“He was sat at Booths. He was spoken to and has spoken back.”

Passing sentence, Jeff Forster, chair of the magistrates’ panel, said there was no prospect of rehabilitation and only custody was appropriate.  

McKenzie, of the Bowling Green Hostel, Carlisle, was jailed for a total of 16 weeks. He was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next seven years.  

The defendant must pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.