A female friend spotted a male neighbour masturbating in his garden. He saw her when he did it. What can shedo

Question

The male neighbour saw her at the window and proceeded, on two separate occasions, to "relieve" himself. Needless to say, my friend is shocked but doesn't know what to do. She lives in the UK , so what does the law say about this?
He could argue that he can do whatever he wants in his own garden (assuming he even admits it). However, she could say that he did it because he saw that she was at her window.
Personally, I think one should have the right to look at a neighbours back yard and not see something like this.
What can the police do? Would she need photographic/video evidence to get something done about this?
This sounds laughable, and it almost is. However, from her point of view it's quite scary to say the least. Thanks.

I have yet to discuss this with my friend, but EvilWoman I agree with what you say about children witnessing this. She also has young children and that is her main concern, should they ever look out the window, they might see him doing this.
Hildulf, yes perhaps you're right, regarding it being a privilege rather than a right to be able to see into another person's backyard. However, I don't think your comparison with peeking through a bedroom window is fair. Someone's garden and someone's bedroom are two entirely different things - you can't say that looking into a garden "is not a far cry from looking in someone's bedroom..".
Lastly, you say that the point is, it's their space. Well, does that mean that he can carry out this activity where my friends kids could eventually see him?

Is the fact that he's on his own property more important than young children possibly seeing him? I'm intrigued as to what some of you think, because more than one person has replied that he is entitled to do this. Thank you.

Answer 1

this, to me, sounds like the classic profile of a sexual deviate in the early stages. from window peeking, exposing themselves, etc to much bigger and WORSE things, if you get my meaning. I've never been one to contact police, but she NEEDS to do it! maybe they can cut him off at the pass before he goes into full 'stalker' mode. seriously, this man could get ugly.

Answer 2

I don't know about what the law says, but common courtesy says that she shouldn't be peeking into her neighbor's private area (his back yard).
On the other hand, common courtesy also says this guy shouldn't be masturbating where others can easily see him.
So, they're kinda both in the wrong.

"Personally, I think one should have the right to look at a neighbours back yard and not see something like this."

I disagree.
I don't think one should have the right to look into a privacy area of another person at all. It's a privelege, not a right.
If you can look into another person's back yard and not have to see this, it's not a far cry from looking into someone's bedroom and being offended by seeing it....
Point is... it's THEIR space... not the offended's.

Edit:

As for the kids potentially seeing him... I have to wonder why they're being taught that it's acceptable to peek into other people's private spaces?

So, I have to say that his right to do what he wants on his property (as long as he's not harming anyone) supercedes anyone else's privelege to not be offended by what they see going on in his back yard.

And by harm, I don't mean "Oh no! Billy saw a male genitalia! He's scarred for life!"

I have to say... if she is offended by what he does in his own private space... she should refrain from looking into his private areas. Maybe that is his goal.

Answer 3

It is scary to her because it IS scary. She should at least make the police aware of what he's doing. A man that would do something like that in plain view of his neighbors is "not right" to say the least. No telling what else (or where else) he may be doing that, or worse. She needs to consider the fact that small children don't need to witness things like that and if he's outside, sooner or later a child will see him.

Answer 4

While laws vary form one place too another, in general if you do something like expose yourself or masturbate where you can be seen by the public, the law says you are a bad guy and can intervene. However, if you are in what should be a private location and someone has to go out of their way a little (or a lot) to see in, then it is a prvate place and the viewer is actually being the bad guy.

Answer 5

Something similar happened to me years ago...I called the police. It turns out that the man had psychiatric issues and had done it many times before. We went to court and he was committed.

Any time there are kids involved you can't be concerned with anything other than protecting them...let the courts decided what he is within his rights to do or not do. Tell your friend to call the police.

Answer 6

She could make a complaint to the police, and he could be charged with gross indecency. But they'd have to catch him in the act. Seems like he wants her to see it happening, so she could humiliate him by saying something like ' is that all you've got?, I've seen bigger pipecleaners'. That'd probably stop the perverted maniac b***ard.

Answer 7

Not sure about the laws.
Myself I think he is into people watching him act in this manner. I would report this to the law officials, but she may have hard feeling between them as neighbours..

Answer 8

1. Hope for a new, patentable, species of flower, arising from the "fallout" arising out of his execrable act ? bbbwwwaaahahaahahah

2. Bring out her blowup doll and, from her vantage point , begin equally detestable, and salacious activities hoping to "model" for him the unacceptability of such al fresco adventures?

3. Call his mom on a camera enabled cell phone, and.....?

4. Call Tony Blair, 'cause i know he'd love to watch?

Answer 9

She should have looked away. He's allowed to do whatever he wants on his own property. Assuming it's legal. It could be indecent exposure, but she'd have a hard time proving that. I just wouldn't watch him. Ever. :)

Answer 10

Report him immediately for indecent exposure, them buy a vidoe camera to record any future incidents so she has concrete evidence.