A Fife man has been fined for causing a breach of the peace by scratching his genitals at a bus stop, causing alarm to two young girls.
Police were called after the girls went to a nearby shop and reported the actions of Barry Purches.
Purches, 46, of Petrel Way, Dunfermline, admitted that on September 23 at Turnstone Road, Dunfermline, he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by scratching his genitals in the view of others, causing fear and alarm and conducted a breach of the peace.
At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said it was accepted there was no significant sexual element to the offence.
“The accused was standing at a bus stop and is seen to be scratching his genitals,” she said.
The two girls standing nearby, aged 15 and 16, became uncomfortable about his behaviour, went to a shop and told a security guard who phoned the police.
Defence solicitor Roshni Joshi said, “He had been very itchy for some time in the lead up to that day. He had forgotten where he was. When he started doing it, it was even more difficult to stop. He was not aware of the two girls until much later.
“He was satisfying an itch. It was not his intention to cause fear and alarm but he accepts that was the consequence.”
Sheriff Michael Fletcher fined Purches £200.
In a separate offence, Purches also admitted being involved in a row with neighbours about cats.
On March 18 at Bittern Court he behaved in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing.
Ms Yousaf said there was a neighbourhood issue over cats, which resulted in the incident at the street where Purches’ mother lives.
On this complaint, Sheriff Fletcher imposed a community payback order with one year’s supervision.
Purches appeared from custody as he is coming to the end of a jail sentence for another matter.