A UNIVERSITY lecturer who taught in Crewe and flashed a teenager while wearing a stocking as a mask has failed in a bid to reduce his jail sentence.

Derek George Ashford, a former sports psychology lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Crewe campus, had his appeal turned down by three top judges on Thursday.

Wearing ‘skimpy, loose fitting running shorts’ and tights over his face, Ashford, 49, exposed himself to two women in Warrington.

Police later found a bag in his camper-van containing a CS gas canister and stockings, and another bag with pornography inside.

The defendant attempted to argue the 16 month prison sentence imposed was excessive and that too much emphasis had been placed on the gas canister, which was not used.

At the Court of Appeal on Thursday, Lord Justice Pitchford, Mr Justice Roderick Evans and Mr Justice Turner rejected that claim.

They said Judge David Hale took account of all factors and set an appropriate sentence.

“We do not consider that the judge could be criticised for concluding that an immediate sentence was required, said Lord Justice Pitchford.

"Having regard to the somewhat unusual circumstances of the present offending, and the background against which it took place, we cannot conclude that a sentence of 16 months was manifestly excessive."

Ashford, of Cranberry Lane, Alsager, was jailed for 16 months at Warrington Crown Court in December last year, after admitting two counts of exposure and possession of the gas canister.

He was driving in a camper van from the MMU campus in Crewe to Wales for his son’s birthday in Wales on October 26 last year.

Ashford approached his first victim, a 31-year-old woman, at about 6pm on Longford Street.

He exposed himself, before laughing and walking off.

Within half an hour, he targeted his second victim - a 17-year-old girl - who was waiting at a bus stop on Manchester Road.

The court heard he stood directly in front of her and flashed her, wearing a stocking on his face, and cap.

She fled and called police with Ashford arrested.

Following the hearing in December, the 17-year-old victim’s father hit out at the 16 month jail term as being ‘too lenient’.