A music enthusiast paraded himself naked in a sports centre after taking an LSD tablet given to him by a pal, a court heard.

But Daniel James Robinson, 23, walked free from Carlisle Crown Court after a judge heard that there was no sexual motive behind his bizarre behaviour. He had earlier admitted outraging public decency.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting, said the defendant, of Old Hall Went, Cockermouth, walked into Cockermouth Sports Centre at noon on May 7 and strolled around the gym, walking up and down five times, fully dressed.

Then, for no apparent reason, as people in the gym looked on in astonishment, he stripped off, removing all his clothes.

He then again began walking up and down as onlookers – including women and children – gaped at him in disbelief.

A security worker eventually took the defendant back to his discarded clothes and ordered him to dress again, which he did, though he adamantly refused to put on his socks, said Mr Rogerson.

Marion Weir, for Robinson, said that in the morning, the defendant had swallowed an LSD tablet.

“It was given to him as a birthday present,” she said.

“The friend said it wasn’t very strong, so he didn’t think it would be very strong, and he thought it would help with his creativity with regard to his music. That turned out not to be the case. He is extremely remorseful, and unsurprisingly embarrassed.”

The barrister said that Robinson had only a distant interest in drugs, and that he had no intention to return to using them.

“He was at pains to point out that his lifestyle does not revolve around drugs; and he doesn’t associate with people who use drugs.”

A talented drummer, the defendant had recently taken on the task of teaching that skill to a 15-year-old, whose mother knew about the court case. He has been accepted to study music in Carlisle from September, said Miss Weir.

After seeing CCTV footage of the naked defendant’s visit to the gym, Judge Hughes said that he did not believe his offence passed the custody threshold.

The judge accepted that the behaviour was not an attempt to gain sexual gratification.

He told Robinson: “In a way, I have seen it all – in more sense than one.”

The judge said he doubted that the defendant had intended to offend.

“But that sort of behaviour certainly does cause offence and I hope that you now know just what a fool you have been,” he said.

He imposed a two year conditional discharge, warning that people would become deeply concerned if he were to expose himself again in the future.

The judge also imposed £100 prosecution costs, and a £20 victim surcharge.