A homeless man was sentenced to time served yesterday after he admitted exposing himself in Hamilton this summer.

John Iris, 63, pleaded guilty to charges of indecent exposure and threatening behaviour in connection with an incident that occurred in July, along with an unlawful assault in May 2024.

However, Magistrates’ Court was told that Iris had already spent almost four months behind bars and would be left homeless again upon his release.

The court heard that Iris was arrested on the morning of July 18 in the City of Hamilton.

Shortly after 10.30am, an officer on patrol was approached by a female visitor who reported a man in a brown jacket exposing himself.

The officer found Iris sitting on steps outside Café 4 and approached him, at which time defendant stood and exposed himself again.

He then reportedly became aggressive, charging towards the officer and throwing rocks from a nearby planter before being arrested.

On the assault charge, the court heard that at about 5am on May 12, 2024, Iris had gone into Champs Variety on Dundonald Street and attempted to buy beer.

After being told that the store could not legally sell alcohol at that hour, he began to curse at the cashier.

When he was ordered to leave, he turned and spat at the cashier, who was behind a glass screen.

After Iris pleaded guilty to the three charges, the court heard that he had been in custody since August 22.

Nicole Smith, duty counsel, said that Iris was sorry for his actions, adding that he suffered from mental health challenges as well as homelessness.

Ms Smith said: “He is a vulnerable person in our community and he does have mental health challenges. We see people coming before these courts more frequently and at a younger age.

“This is indicative of the problem that we are having as a community with mental health and the lack of facilities to actively treat mental health.

“Another issue we are facing is when Iris leaves here today, he will still be of no fixed abode.”

Magistrate Maria Sofianos said Iris’s actions in July were “deplorable” but added: “It’s a shame that there are not adequate resources for people who present with mental health needs.”

She noted that while Iris did have previous convictions, they were all of “some vintage” and for offences of a different nature.

Ms Sofianos sentenced Iris to three months behind bars with time already served since August taken into account.

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