Ex-Portstewart Postmaster On Bail To Attend Wimbledon
May 14, 2025
Samuel Houston, the former postmaster of Portstewart Post Office, whose trial is underway for allegedly exposing himself through the outlet’s windows, has had his bail conditions temporarily eased to permit travel to Wimbledon.
Defence counsel Grant Powles informed Coleraine Magistrates’ Court that, in addition to attending the tennis championships, Mr. Houston plans to visit family in London during the same trip in July. According to the barrister’s application to vary bail, the 65-year-old had booked the journey last year. Standing at the dock and checking his phone, Houston confirmed he will be in London from July 1 to 7.
Although his registered address remains “Royal Mail, Portstewart Promenade”—despite the sale of the business—Houston faces two counts of indecent exposure by committing an “act of lewd, obscene and disgusting nature,” plus one count of engaging in indecent behaviour at the Portstewart delivery office between September 1, 2023, and January 18, 2025.
Prosecutors say the complainant worked locally in retail and routinely banked takings at the Post Office. It was during those banking visits that Houston allegedly displayed an image of a male penis on his phone “in full view” of the witness. When the employee raised his concerns with management, those visits ceased—but police say further incidents followed.
On several occasions, the witness would take breaks in his car parked near what was described as the “defendant’s second home.” He told officers that Houston would summon him with a wave, then reappear “completely naked and showing his buttocks towards the window in full view of the witness and any passing members of the public.”
“It is alleged this happened on multiple occasions throughout the year until the witness captured a picture on his phone on January 17,” the arresting officer stated, adding the witness felt “this was targeted at him and was unwanted sexual advances.” Distressed, the complainant went to police with his statement, photographs and the identity of a second man who had also seen Houston’s exposed backside. That individual told officers he had passed the Post Office in September or October and spotted “a completely naked male inside with his buttocks pointing at the window.”
Under formal interview, Houston reportedly “made partial admissions” but maintained there was no deliberate intent, describing the behaviour as coincidental.
The court also heard that Houston has a prior relevant conviction: in early 2024, he appeared at Laganside Magistrates’ Court for indecent behaviour after driving along Botanic Avenue “with no top and no trousers.”
On Monday, May 12, District Judge Peter King agreed to suspend Houston’s residence and curfew conditions for the duration of his London trip. The matter has been adjourned until June 30.
This article may contain the orginal works of our content team, taken from a press release, or may form part of one. If you’d like to use it on another publication, please ensure you have the right permissions, as using it without approval could be considered copyright infringement or plagiarism. If in doubt, feel free to reach out – we're happy to help clarify permissions and usage.
