A 70-year-old man carried out an indecent act in the street as a woman danced naked in the window of a town centre flat, a court was told.

Kevin Stewart was arrested after he was seen with his trousers round his ankles while stood in front of a window on Duke Street in Whitehaven on June 10.

A woman and her sister were travelling in their vehicle on the street at around 10pm when they saw a female naked in the window, Workington Magistrates’ Court heard.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said the women knew who she was through work and were concerned about what they saw.

They did a lap round the town centre and then saw the female sat on the edge of a bed naked. There was a male standing outside the window, the court was told.

The women did another lap and this time saw the defendant had his trousers round his ankles. His hands were in his underpants and he was described by the witnesses as performing an indecent sexual act.

He was watching through the window while the woman was dancing naked. They contacted the police.

Ms Fee said there was a child walking up the street so the women told him to move on.

They then saw police arrive to the area and speak to the man involved.

A statement read out to the court from one of the witnesses said: “The incident has completely shocked me. I did find it funny at first but that changed to disgust.

“I was worried about the female. She has mental health issues and I was worried the man was taking advantage of her.”

Video footage taken by the witnesses and from police bodycam footage was played to the court.

Ms Fee said the defendant was arrested at the scene. He was interviewed and claimed he had erectile dysfunction so couldn’t have been masturbating. 

He claimed it possibly wasn’t him at the window but the underpants in the video footage were the same as the ones seized from him.

Stewart, of Duke Street, Whitehaven, pleaded guilty to an act of outraging public decency.

The defendant, who was unrepresented in court, said: “I’m deeply sorry. I have embarrassed my family. I don’t know what else I can say. It’s stupidity.”

Stewart’s probation officer said the defendant had plans to travel to India the following day and would not be back in the UK until February 20 next year.

The probation officer said she had concerns for a man of his age coming to court for the first time.

At the time of the offence, Stewart had been on his way home, after drinking half a dozen pints of lager, the court heard.

Stewart’s probation officer said he knew there was a prospect he would see the woman naked in her home.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentence until February 24 when the defendant returns from India.

Jennifer Wilkinson, chair of magistrates, said: “I will be honest for a while we thought you would not be going to India.

“It’s in the interest of justice to adjourn for sentence on this occasion.”

Stewart was granted unconditional bail until his next court appearance.

MORE FROM COURT: Whitehaven man in court charged with historic sex offences