CYCLIST Steven Rodwell is to launch an appeal against his conviction of indecently exposing himself to two policewomen after magistrates sentenced him to a year's probation.

CYCLIST Steven Rodwell is to launch an appeal against his conviction of indecently exposing himself to two policewomen after magistrates sentenced him to a year's probation.

Rodwell, of Beech Road, Loudwater, appeared at Wycombe Magistrates Court for sentencing on Tuesday.

He was found guilty in his absence last month of exposing himself with intent to insult the two women. He failed to turn up to court at the previous hearing. Magistrates then issued a warrant for his arrest.

Abi Nixon, prosecuting, told magistrates how the two women were jogging along a footpath near the sewage works works on The Rye at at about 6pm on April 4.

While out jogging PC Caroline Winter and PC Teresa Hiller, of Reading police, who were acting on public information, noticed a man riding a mountain bike.

A few seconds later they saw the bicycle leaning against some bushes and then saw a man turning towards them.

A statement from PC Winter said she saw the man facing the footpath, leaning slightly back and he was masturbating. He was not urinating.

The officers jogged passed the man and continued to look back before alerting fellow officers who arrested Rodwell by the scene.

In a statement to High Wycombe police Rodwell said he was not masturbating but was unrinating.

He also maintains he did not know that the officers were there.

Tiff Whillis, defending, explained Rodwell had failed to turn up at Wycombe Magistrates' Court last month 'because he was so annoyed to be accused of something he had not done.' He also explained how Rodwell had lost his job as a result of his prosecution and was now dependent on his wife and father.

In addition to the probation order, Rodwell was ordered to pay £100 costs but these were both suspended pending his appeal.