FORMER Northern Ireland under 19s player, Aaron Canning, has been sacked from Coleraine FC after indecently exposing himself to older women.
He appeared at North Antrim Magistrates court on Friday, September 18, where he pleaded guilty to exposing himself to a 57-year-old woman.
The court heard how the footballer had shown a preference for targeting older women, which District Judge Liam McNally described as his "modus operandi".
Canning was sentenced to 18 months probation and a seven-year sexual offences prevention order. The order means the player will have to disclose his sex offender’s conviction to any woman he starts a casual or intimate relationship with.
The 23-year-old defender, who was dropped from Saturday’s game against Portadown, was formally sacked from the club yesterday.
In a statement the club said:
Player Aaron Canning has been found in breach of the Coleraine FC Code of Conduct. As a result, the club has terminated the player's contract with immediate effect. The player accepts and is in full agreement with the decision. Coleraine FC will make no further statement on the matter.