A BUSINESSMAN from Selby invited an under-age girl, a 16-year-old and a woman to his York coffee bar for “job interviews” then exposed himself to them, York Crown Court heard.

Rob Galley, prosecuting, said two girls aged 15 and 16 separately received text messages from David Richards, 53, inviting them to interviews at Rioco’s in Feasegate, York, as did a woman in her thirties.

But when they attended, on separate days, Richards was standing naked in front of them.

York’s top judge has ordered probation officers to assess the risk Richards posed to other women before sentencing him.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said his priority would be to ensure public safety and to ensure Richards did not do it again.

He said of the three victims: “Each was effectively tricked into going to his work premises.”

When each knocked on the door of what they thought was his office, they were confronted with Richards in the nude.

He claimed he was getting dressed and made as if to go ahead with the job interview, but all three left.

Richards, of George Street, Wistow, pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent exposure and hid his face as he left court. He has to sign on the sex offenders’ register, and will be sentenced on April 26.

The judge said Richards had put his victims through some anxious months expecting to be called to give evidence because he denied the charges when he first appeared before York Crown Court. He changed his plea on the day of his trial.