A man caught in a sauna claims he was just warming up, but the truth is shocking
Xin Zhang, 59, was seen through the sauna window by a woman. She noticed he was staring at her while his shorts were down. Prosecutors said he was aroused by the pool jets.
Staff at the Tom Husband Leisure Centre confronted Zhang after the incident in March 2023. They banned him and called the police. He later pleaded guilty to outraging public decency.
Zhang claimed he was cold after swimming and was just warming himself. He denied any sexual acts or masturbation, according to reports.
On February 3, Zhang faced a trial at Bolton Magistrates’ Court. The court found inconsistencies in his story and ruled that his actions were for sexual gratification. Sentencing is set for June 2025.
Zhang has lived in the UK for over 20 years and had a leisure centre membership for more than 10 years. He swam over 1,000 meters before entering the sauna that day.
The prosecutor described how he was seen with his shorts down, rubbing himself while staring at a woman through the glass.
The woman testified that he stood up, looked at her, and pulled his pants down. She felt shocked and vulnerable during the incident.
Zhang continued for three to four minutes before staff intervened. The woman was certain his actions were sexual. She questioned how else he could explain it.
When asked about being cold, she pointed out it was a sauna, and it was very hot.
Zhang was banned from the leisure centre. A staff member who discovered him said the woman looked flustered and told him what was happening.
He saw Zhang with one hand covering himself and the other up. He was shocked to see someone behaving that way in a public sauna.
The staff member mentioned Zhang had acted strangely before, but management lacked evidence to confront him earlier.
A manager spoke to Zhang about the incident. He reportedly referred to his genitals as “my chicken.”
Zhang explained to police that he was adjusting his shorts due to eczema. He claimed he was just warming himself.
He admitted his behavior was unacceptable but denied any sexual intent. He said he was cold, tired, and hungry in the sauna.
Zhang claimed he sat there for several minutes feeling cold. He loosened his waistband and tried to warm himself before staff knocked on the window.
His lawyer stated Zhang accepted his behavior was wrong but insisted there were no sexual undertones.
However, the bench chair noted that all four prosecution witnesses provided consistent evidence. Zhang’s accounts were inconsistent.
The court ordered a pre-sentence report before sentencing on June 24. The maximum penalty for the offense is six months in prison, and all options remain open.
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