Ex-Crystal Palace Striker Sentenced For Public Masturbation

A former Crystal Palace striker, Neil Shipperley has been given a 12-month community order after he was caught masturbating in front of a mother and her 16-year-old daughter.

Shipperley, 45, was caught by the mother exposing his genitals from inside his van, in Hillingdon, west London, on 17 September.

According to her, the sight was “disgusting.”

As part of the order given at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, Shipperley must complete 20-days of rehabilitation.

Also, he is mandated to complete 120 hours’ unpaid work and pay a £90 victim surcharge, £85 in costs and £200 in compensation.

The prosecutor Shaan Sethi told the court the offender had driven his van up to the victims, having his window wind down, then stopped the vehicle.

Sethi added that the pair had turned to thank Shipperley for letting them cross the road, they however “noticed he was holding his penis in his hand and staring directly at them”.

The mother and her teenage girl then walked away from the vehicle, but Shipperley, kept following them in his van.

“Some people may see flashers as pests or a nuisance to society. My view of Neil Shipperley is as a predator. His aim was to intimidate us, to violate us, to shock us and to scare us,” the mother said in a ‘victim impact statement’.

Shipperley, expressed remorse as he admitted he intentionally exposed his genitals.

His counsel, Sarah O’Kane said Shipperley “expressed anguish, embarrassment, shame, but above all remorse.

“He is in short appalled by his actions and he wishes to apologise unreservedly to the complaint in this case.”

She explained Shipperley had sought counselling and had been dealing with personal issues including the death of his father, gambling and debts.

“Everything came to a crescendo on the day in question,” she said. “This was, he thinks on reflection, a cry for help.”

Similarly, he is subject to a five-year sexual offences notification requirement order and must report to Hayes police station within three days.

Shipperley had his football career in Cystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon, Chelsea and Southampton during his 15-year career.