Serial flasher admits exposing himself to young girls

Philip Robertson, 51, exposed himself to girls as young as nine during a spate of attacks at schools in the Aberdeen area.

Dozens of officers carried out door-to-door inquiries in a bid to trace the "red-faced" man responsible for the crime.

Robertson, who also targeted schools in Ellon, was known to ask his victims, "has your teacher ever shown you this?" as he unzipped his trousers.

Officers called his actions "shameful" yesterday, after he admitted five charges of public indecency at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

The first incident happened on Seaview Drive, in the Bridge of Don area of Aberdeen, on 19 November 2008.

He exposed himself to two ten-year-old girls at the city's Walker Road Primary in Torry the following day. He then went to various streets in his home town of Ellon over the next few weeks.

Police advised teachers and parents to be extra vigilant and warn children of the dangers of strangers as they hunted the man.

He was eventually caught at Ellon's Gordon Park committing a further act of indecency on 19 April last year.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that Robertson had lost his job and his wife after the offences came to light.

Lawyer Ian Woodward-Nut said: "My client is 51, with no previous convictions.

"He has worked all his life since the age of 16. His employment was terminated after this happened and he is now signed off work.

"He has suffered from depression for the past seven years and this illness formed the background of these incidents.

"When these incidents came to light, Mr Robertson sought help and saw a psychologist, and has now ultimately attended counselling."

Sentence was deferred for background reports until next month.