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Former Premier League footballer flashed mother and teenage daughter

Victim says she feels 'violated' after incident

Zoe Tidman
Wednesday 27 November 2019 15:06 GMT
Neil Shipperley pleaded guilty to exposure in court
Neil Shipperley pleaded guilty to exposure in court (SWNS)

An ex-Premier League footballer has admitted to flashing at a mother and daughter from his van.

Neil Shipperley, who played as a striker for Chelsea, Southampton, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United, has pleaded guilty to exposure at Uxbridge Magistrates Court.

He handed himself into his local police station as the women were reporting him after the incident in west London, the court heard.

The prosecution has also accused Shipperley of masturbating in front of the mother and daughter, who was 16 at the time.

Prosecution lawyer Taranjit Rai​ said the defendant stopped his van and wound down his window after driving alongside the victims, who thought they were being let across the road.

“The victim turned around to say thank you,” Mr Rai said. “She looked down at the window and saw that he was holding his penis and looking at her face.”

He claimed the Shipperley followed the victims and “proceeded to masturbate”.

In a statement read to the court, the mother said she was “really shocked and angry”.

“How can he think he has the power to do this to females. Me and my daughter feel violated,” she said.

Neil Shipperley playing for Sheffield United in 2006
Neil Shipperley playing for Sheffield United in 2006 (Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Sarah O’Kane, who is in mitigation for Shipperley, told the court her client felt “remorse and anguish” for his actions and recalled the fact he handed himself into police shortly after the incident.

Ms O’Kane also said he may contest the accusations he was performing a sex act.

Shipperley pleaded guilty to a charge of intentionally exposing his genitals intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress.

He will return to the magistrates’ court for sentencing next month.

Additional reporting by agencies

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