Judge 'could face flashing quiz'

Sir Stephen Richards said the woman was mistaken

A judge cleared of exposing himself to a woman on a train may be questioned again after police confirmed two women had complained of similar incidents.

Sir Stephen Richards, 56, of Wimbledon, south-west London, was found not guilty of two counts of indecent exposure.

City of Westminster magistrates trying the case said police had failed to investigate the matter thoroughly.

British Transport Police said it was investigating complaints by two women about incidents on the same route.

Identity parade

Sir Stephen was accused of flashing at the same woman on trains in the Wimbledon area on 16 and 24 October 2006.

During the trial the Court of Appeal judge held up a pair of Calvin Klein underpants, similar to those he wears, to show the difficulty of exposing himself in them.

The court heard the woman had allegedly captured Sir Stephen on a mobile phone and identified him at a video identity parade.

But he maintained the allegations were a case of mistaken identity.

City of Westminster magistrates said the evidence to identify Sir Stephen was insufficient.

Truthful evidence

They said in the absence of any evidence supporting the judge's identification and "for this reason only" they could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt.

However, Senior District Judge Timothy Workman said the woman, a City worker in her 20s, gave "clear, dignified and truthful evidence".

He blamed British Transport Police (BTP) for failing to investigate the allegation promptly or thoroughly.

Judge Workman said had they been able to obtain CCTV "that evidence may well have supported her identification and, equally, may have exonerated Sir Stephen".

A BTP spokesman said the force had accepted the failings highlighted by the judge during the court case.