A BRADFORD man with a history of committing sexual offences has been detained under the Mental Health Act after exposing himself to a schoolgirl.

Stefan Zap, 52, who appeared before Bradford Crown Court via video link from Lynfield Mount Hospital, shook his head as His Honour Judge Ahmed Nadim outlined the case and asked, “I don’t understand. What am I charged with?”

The court heard that Zap, of Sunningdale, Fairweather Green, had previously been convicted of indecent assault, exposure, sexual assault, and outraging public decency.

On March 23, 2023, he was found to have committed an act of outraging public decency in Bradford. On September 20 last year, he was unfit to plead and unfit to stand trial.

Zap was found to have exposed himself near a school by pulling down his shorts as a female teenager walked past.

When told to desist he was startled, apologised, pulled his clothing up and walked away.

A medical report determined that he presented symptoms of psychosis, suffered from cognitive defects and intellectual functioning and that he remained in need of hospital treatment.

Judge Ahmed said: “The medical opinion is that there is a link between the mental disorder that you suffer from and the offending behaviour that you engaged in in the past.

“I find that you are suffering from a mental disorder, the nature of which is such that it is appropriate that you should be detained in a hospital for medical treatment.

“The most suitable method for dealing with you is the making of an order under Section 37 of the 1983 Mental Health Act.”