A man followed three girls around a Carlisle park before committing a sex act in front of them.

Details of Roger Scott’s lewd conduct, in bushes at Hammonds Pond on a busy bank holiday Sunday, were outlined at the city’s crown court.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting, said three 15-year-old girls were in the popular Upperby recreation spot on the evening of May 28.

“The park was busy with people of all different ages, ranging from babies to the elderly,” said Mr Rogerson.

The girls first noted 43-year-old Scott sitting down close to female toilets. When they moved to another part of the park, they saw him go into a wooded area.

“He was staring out at them from behind the bushes,” said Mr Rogerson.

They relocated again but so too did Scott. One of the teens later described how he moved “between two trees, in clear view of the girls”.

He then dropped his camouflaged shorts and committed the sex act. Police were called by a friend of the girls who had challenged Scott.

Referring to one of the victim’s statements, Mr Rogerson said: “This man called himself Roger Scott, and she felt disgusted that he had behaved in that way in front of 15-year-old girls.

“Mercifully, the impact does not appear to have been too great.”

Scott was arrested by police and the prosecutor added: “He was asked what he felt his behaviour would have made people feel. He said, ‘Disgusted, horrified. I wish I had never went in there now’.”

He told officers he had drunk three litres of cider that day.

The court heard that Scott, of Upperby Road, Carlisle, who had earlier admitted engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, had previous convictions for indecent assault, in 1998, and exposure a decade later.

Clare Thomas, defending, revealed how the defendant “struggles with day-to-day life and drinks to excess”. He had spent seven weeks in custody since his latest crime and was “terrified” of going back.

“It has been a significant wake-up call to him,” said Miss Thomas. “It is not an experience he will quickly forget.”

After hearing mitigation, Judge Hughes suspended a 21-month jail term for two years.

He ordered Scott to complete a sex offender treatment course and a rehabilitation requirement – concluding that was the best way of protecting the community.

Scott must sign the sex offenders’ register for 10 years and received a sexual harm prevention order which bans him from entering any park, playground, sports field, playground or swimming pool.