The arrest followed a fresh incident on Saturday along the same Armidale bike path which has been at the centre of the police investigation.

Armidale police Inspector Chris McKinnon said reports were received a male had exposed himself to a woman walking along the path, near Centennial Close about 5.45pm.

“Members of the public assisted police in locating the alleged offender,” he told The Leader.

“A short time later police were able to identify the man. An 18-year-old Armidale man was charg- ed in relation to that incident with wilful and obscene exposure.”

The teenager will now have to answer further charges after police charged him with other incidents dating back to December.

Police will allege on Monday February 17, the teenager exposed himself to another woman as he walked along the bike path.

The accused is also charged with allegedly exposing himself to a woman as he rode along a bike path on December 22.

All three incidents were reported to police and are alleged to have occurred on paths near Centennial Close.

Armidale Target Action Group officers, along with Armidale police, arrested the teenager at an Armidale home within an hour of the alleged offence on Saturday afternoon.

“Police have been spending a lot of time investigating these matters,” Inspector McKinnon said.

“And this result would not have been possible without the assistance of the public.”

The arrest is the culmination of an intensive investigation by Armidale police who last month launched a public appeal for help to find the offender.

Inquiries are continuing in relation to the incidents but anyone with information is urged to talk to local investigators.

“Obviously if anyone saw anything suspicious at the time and has not spoken to police as yet, we urge them to come forward,” Inspector McKinnon said.

The man is facing three counts of wilful and obscene exposure and was granted conditional bail to appear in Armidale Local Court in May.