Pizza pervert who answered door to delivery drivers naked 'and aroused' exposed

Pearse Crudden regularly ordered pizzas from his local Dominos Pizza takeaway but left drivers in shock and distress when he answered his front door in a state of undress and arousal.

Enniskillen Magistrates Court heard how creepy Crudden often masturbated in full view of the shocked drivers.

He can finally be 'exposed' after a reporting restriction stopping the press from identifying the 38-year-old lapsed.

Ironically, given his sleazy crimes, when confronted by us this week Crudden said he didn't want to comment on the case as we had "caught him a wee bit unexpected".

That's an understated way of how the poor pizza delivery men found Crudden when they were just trying to earn an honest living.

When we called, initially Crudden didn't answer but when we returned he confirmed he "had been having a bath".

And we were happy to report he was least wearing a T-shirt and a pair of tracksuit bottoms when he opened the door to us.

We asked Crudden if he was sorry for putting the pizza delivery drivers through an horrific ordeal and to discover what on earth he was thinking.

But he politely told us: "No, I don't want to talk about the case but if you leave me your number I'll call you later - you've caught me a wee bit unexpected."

Crudden, of Drumbawn Close, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, previously claimed he would self-harm if named in connection with the offences, which occurred in 2018.

He previously appeared before Enniskillen Magistrates Court in February 2019 where he was formally charged with of three counts of exposure.

This involved him intentionally exposing his genitals intending someone would see and be caused alarm or distress, on various dates in June and July 2018.

He denied all charges from the outset and protracted proceedings followed, including a contested hearing having to be rescheduled on the day it was due to be heard in July 2019.

It would ultimately be heard the following October before it was dealt with, during which the defence said he was not calling witnesses to give evidence and was willing to have the matter decided on papers. This was of considerable relief to the victims who had attended court but were permitted to leave.

The defendant declined to give evidence.

Having considered the papers, the judge convicted Crudden on all counts, saying: "The evidence is strikingly against him."

Deeming the offences extremely serious, the judge adjourned for pre-sentence reports.

On return, the court was told the defendant was a regular customer of Dominos Pizzas, frequently having food delivered to his home.

He placed an order on July 1, 2018, and when the delivery driver duly attended he was met at the door by Crudden "naked from the waist down and in an aroused state".

The driver reported the matter, adding that a similar situation occurred the previous week when he was delivering a pizza.

On that occasion, the door to Crudden's home was ajar and he was observed wearing only a T-shirt and masturbating.

Shocked, the driver left the scene. He composed himself and returned with the pizza which Crudden then claimed he didn't order.

Having discussed what occurred, another driver described a similar experience. On delivering a pre-ordered pizza the second driver saw Crudden seated on the stairs completely naked, masturbating and making no effort to cover himself. Crudden was arrested and ultimately picked out in an identify procedure by both victims.

While defence counsel accepted this was a deeply distressing encounter for the delivery drivers, it was emphasised that no women or children were involved and victims were instead "robust adult men".

The judge said: "This was very serious and very upsetting to the victims. What makes it more serious is there were several incidents and more than one victim."

He decided a period of supervision was "essential to protect members of the public".

A nine-month probation order was imposed, but no Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was not sought, nor was Crudden required to sign the sex offender register.

steven.moore@sundayworld.com