Lone female ramblers and dog walkers were allegedly flashed by a serviceman over a 10 month period in Savernake Forest.

Prosecutors claim Stephen Murphy, 43, flashed or performed sex acts upon himself in front of women in the Wiltshire woods on seven occasions between June 2018 and March 2019.

Some of the women, who were on their own or walking their dogs, were said to have been followed.

Appearing before Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Murphy, whose address was given in court papers as Brigade Headquarters, Bulford Camp, but who gave an address to the court in Blackwood, South Wales, pleaded not guilty to seven courts of exposure.

The allegations are dated: June 6 and 13, 2018; July 12, 2018; September 5, 2018; February 26, 2019; and March 4 and 28, 2019.

He was bailed by District Judge Joanna Dickens for a trial preparation hearing at Salisbury Crown Court on February 19. The judge said: “This case has to go to the crown court, it’s too serious to be dealt with here.”