Former athlete cleared of flashing

A former 100m sprinter from Willenhall who has represented Team GB has been cleared of exposing himself five times at two Black Country care homes.

Mark Walcott, aged 34, cried and held his head in his hands as a jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court took just 90 minutes to return unanimous not guilty verdicts on all counts.

Walcott had told the jury he was with one of his lovers when the incidents happened outside Bushfield Court in Bilston and Willows care home in Darlaston.

The trial heard how CCTV was installed at Willows after residents reported a man exposing himself in the street.

Walcott was arrested at 2am in Dangerfield Lane near Willows care home by police who were keeping watch following the reports.

He said he was in the area looking to buy milk from a milkman for his 17-month-old daughter, as the 24-hour Spar near his home in Walsall Road was too expensive.

His defence lawyer claimed the person responsible was a dead ringer for Walcott who was known as the "Darlo flasher." He declined to comment to the Express & Star after being cleared.

During the trial, three girlfriends of the athlete gave evidence in court to support him.

His Polish lover Aga Michalska was brought in to vouch for his whereabouts on some of the nights it is claimed he was outside the homes, while another woman, Puja Dheiman, was called to explain how she was with him in a Birmingham nightclub on another occasion.

His girlfriend of 11 years and mother of his baby Deborah Price gave evidence that she knew he was having affairs, but that he was not capable of flashing at elderly residents and staff at the homes.

Earlier prosecutor David Iles told the jury Walcott considered himself a "glorious physical specimen who is a treat and privilege for the fairer sex to behold."

Mr Iles added: "He thinks he is God's gift."

Walcott suffered with hamstring and back trouble. In 1990, he and his brother Andrew both won gold representing the region in the English Schools' Athletics Championships.

Both also ran for Wolverhampton and Bilston.