A builder who got hopelessly drunk during an afternoon off staggered into a supermarket – and indecently exposed himself.

But a district judge at Carlisle Magistrates' Court was told that Martin Richard Lee's drunken behaviour at the Spar in Alston on Friday, July 15, which he has struggled to recall, was not sexually motivated.

In court, Lee, of Hillersdon Terrace, Nenthead, admitted indecent exposure.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the defendant arrived at the Spar Shop at around 6pm and twice approached the till.

On both occasions he was indecently exposing himself to the woman at the till.

At the time, there were other customers in the shop, including children.

The incident left the victim feeling uncomfortable, said Mrs Ward.

She said: “Mr Lee said he could vaguely remember being in the Spar Shop after consuming alcohol.

He said that he had been struggling with alcohol and drug abuse for a couple of years. “He couldn't remember [the offence] but has made admissions.”

There was no suggestion that the defendant was sexually aroused, she said. Keith Thomas, for Lee, said that he felt “utterly ashamed and embarrassed”.

#“He's in the building trade and on the Friday in question he had finished work at lunchtime and drinking throughout the afternoon and he has very little memory of what happened,” said Mr Thomas.

“He said he was going to the Spar Shop, no doubt for more alcohol.”

The barrister said that Lee wanted to apologise to everybody in the shop, and had pointed out that he had been spoken to about the offence, by his friends, by the police - and by his wife.

“There was nothing sexual behind it,” said Mr Thomas, adding that what happened would continue to embarrass Lee for months to come.

District Judge Gerald Chalk imposed a 60 day jail sentence, suspending it for a year. Lee will also have to observe a six week 8pm to 6am curfew, and pay a £115 victim surcharge and £85 costs.