A PERVERT committed an indecent act while watching women shop at Tesco.

Paul Rice, of Bicton Avenue, St Peter's, Worcester, was caught by police in his car outside the supermarket in St Peter's, Worcester Magistrates Court was told.

Police found Rice with one hand down his trousers and a rucksack containing a sex toy and Glamour magazine.

They later found he was wearing a G-string.

Rice, aged 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of using threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour likely to harass, alarm or distress on Thursday, March 8, and Friday, March 9.

Julie Rosamond, prosecuting, said on the Thursday, staff spotted him and notified security.

Miss Rosamond said they believed he was committing the indecent act on himself.

Staff contacted the police who were unable to attend.

The following day at 3.15pm a police officer was driving in the area and saw Rice's car, which he recognised from the description the previous day.

He parked close to Rice and saw he had one hand down his trousers. Rice was arrested.

Miss Rosamond said a rucksack belonging to Rice was found to contain a sex toy, Glamour magazines and some G-strings, and images of women from the magazines.

When questioned, Rice said he was only interested in older women, rather than young girls.

He also said his hormones had overtaken his brainpower.

Nicholas Clough, defending, said Rice, who is a factory manager, was humiliated by his actions.

He said Rice was suffering from emotional attachment and had had a difficult childhood.

"He is seeing a psychiatrist and was worried his actions would have an effect on his job and his relationship.

"He will never repeat this incident.

"Whatever was going wrong in his life is now being dealt with. I offer his most sincere apologies for this matter", Mr Clough said.

Magistrates told Rice they had thought about the incident very carefully, and believed he had every right to be embarrassed and ashamed of his actions.

Rice was given a conditional discharge for two years due to his previous good behaviour, but was told not to repeat this or any similar incident.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £60.