An Ashford flasher – who frightened schoolgirls at bus stops – has been ordered to do 80 hours of therapy to deal with his sex offending.

Churchgoing Michael Lewington, 26, struck three times in September last year exposing himself to young girls.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how one of his victims was so terrified she called her mother for help.

Lewington, of Sir Bernard Paget Avenue was arrested last year and has spent six month on remand awaiting sentence.

He has now pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent exposure and one of engaging in sexual activity in front of a child.

A third charge of exposure, which he denied, has been ordered to remain on the file.

Judge James O’Mahony told him he carried out the attacks for sexual gratification..but “why you did remains a mystery”.

He said the courts had a duty to “protect kids from this kind of appalling, disgusting behaviour.”

Lewington was given a 15-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to take part in treatment sessions.

Prosecutor Anthony Hook told Canterbury Crown Court how between September 2 and 26 last year, Lewington had walked up to schoolgirls at bus stops in Ashford and dropped his trousers.

On September 13 in Langley Drive he went to within a metre of a young teenager and performed his vile act.

She called her mother on her mobile phone and her father later arrived and went looking for the sex pervert.

Mr Hook said the incident was also witnessed by other teenage girls who reported him acting unusually.

On September 26, he stood in front of a young student at another bus stop, making coughing noises until she looked up.

“She felt extremely uncomfortable and realised he was touching himself. She pretended to make a telephone call and ran off along the road and telephoned her brother.

“She was left shocked and felt very distressed, “ he added.

Michael Phillips, defending handed a number of references to the judge including some from people at churches he attended.

He added: “He is now extremely embarrassed and ashamed and feels regret and remorse.”