Man charged with outraging public decency and assaulting police by canal in Newbury town centre

A man has been charged with numerous offences, including outraging public decency and assaulting police by the canal in Newbury town centre.

Fintan William Burke, 35, of no fixed abode, has been charged with one count of outraging public decency, one count of using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm or distress, one count of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress and five counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

The charges are in connection with an incident on Tuesday in which a man was seen indecently exposing himself on the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal, alongside Toomers Wharf.

The man then kicked a woman in her sixties, causing her to fall into the canal.

She was helped out of the canal and did not suffer any serious injuries.

When police attended they were assaulted.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, August 15.