A WOMAN was left terrified when a man exposed himself in a York street in the early hours of the morning.

The unprovoked incident, in Fulford Road, was described as “a deeply truly frightening” ordeal by magistrates as they sentenced Vlad Oprea to a three-year community order.

Oprea, 32, of Whitethorn Close, York, pleaded guilty to walking towards the woman as he exposed himself at 1.20am on December 18 last year.

Kathryn Reeve, prosecuting at York Magistrates Court, said: “The complainant was walking home along Fulford Road, on the same side asof the barracks, when she saw a red car.

“She saw a male walk out into the road about 100 yards ahead of her.

“She continued walking towards him and he reached inside his trousers and walked towards her.”

By this point, the victim was close to Fulford Police Station and she attracted the attention of an officer when she screamed at Oprea.

Oprea fled in his car towards York, but was arrested a short time later.

Oprea, who is originally from Romania and was representing himself, told police officers he had stopped his car to urinate in a bush.

However, when magistrates asked him if he had anything to add in court, he replied: “I feel very shameful for what I did.”

Magistrate Fiona Holland said: “In considering this matter, we have taken into consideration your early guilty plea, the remorse you have shown and the fact this is your first offence in the UK.

“We have also considered the fact it was deeply unpleasant and happened in the early hours of the morning, and it was deeply frightening.”

Oprea was put on the Sex Offenders Register, ordered to attend a three-year programme at Northumbria Sex Offender Group, given three years’ supervision from the Probation Service and told to pay £175 costs.