By Kelly Ashmore,Thomas Cooper

Copyright birminghammail

An ‘unapologetic exhibitionist’ claimed ‘Lucy’ – a voice in his head – forced him to expose himself. Serial flasher Phillip Knott was said to have a ‘lengthy history of this type of offending’. The 55-year-old was staying at Brighter Futures homeless accommodation, in Hope Street, Hanley, when he exposed his penis. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Knott was previously arrested for traipsing through Hanley fully-nude in 2022. READ MORE: Southport attack survivor recalls chilling moment she knew ‘he was going to hurt us all’ He was also detained when he ‘waved’ his penis at police staff outside a court in 2020, reports StokeonTrentLive . Knott was an ‘unapologetic exhibitionist’ who enjoyed showing himself to ‘vulnerable people’, prosecutor Matthew Ness said. “The offence has been significantly aggravated by the volume and frequency of similar offending,” he said. Knott, who was arrested in January, has already served seven months in jail on remand. He went on to plead guilty to exposure. The court was told he may be using exposure to secure himself housing through the justice system, however Kelly Cyples, mitigating, said Knott refuted those claims. She told the court: “Mr Knott denies any assertation that he is taking advantage of the justice system for accommodation purposes. “He acknowledges that he does have problems, but he says these are with the ‘voice of Lucy’. “He does have accommodation issues and mental health problems. “Mr Knott does not believe the prison environment is a good fit for him and would prefer to receive support in the community, which he looks forward to receiving in due course.” Knott was released and sentenced to a community order with 30 rehabilitation days. Judge Graeme Smith told him: “It has been set out that you have a lengthy history of this type of offending, spanning over the last four years. “It’s clear that you believe that this is fault of a voice from someone called Lucy. “But the psychiatric report says that you have a degree of control over this voice. “This offending has been made much more serious by the fact that you have an extensive history of offending, with this latest offence being committed while you were already subject to a suspended sentence, while in supported accommodation. “Normally in these circumstances, I would impose an immediate custodial sentence. “However, today I am taking the unusual step of imposing a community order, because it is the only option to offer you support with your behaviour and housing.”