A man who smirked after committing a sex act in front of children and parents has been sentenced by a judge.
Youngsters had gathered on the green at Silloth to play football. Christopher Peter Scott walked over to three children.
Standing on a path two metres away, 31-year-old Scott put his hand down his trousers and his arm was seen to be moving as he looked at them.
Shocked witnesses told of seeing Scott’s body shaking.
“He turned around, took his hands out of his pants and started smirking,” one onlooker told police. Another said he walked off as if nothing had happened.
Scott admitted one charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. He had one previous conviction on his record having contacted the emergency services while performing the same sex act.
Passing sentence at Carlisle Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Barker told Scott, of no fixed address, of his Silloth offending: “It clearly caused great discomfort and distress to those who were present, parents of the children, to see you engaging in that way, and was an unsettling and unpleasant sight.”
Hearing the defendant had several psychiatric difficulties, Judge Barker imposed a three-year community order.
Scott must complete mental health and sex offender treatment courses, along with a rehabilitation requirement.
Judge Barker concluded Scott should be managed in the community, but warned him that any escalation of his offending would result in a prison sentence.
Scott must also sign the sex offenders’ register and follow the strict conditions of a prevention order, both for five years.
