A PERTH man arrested after being spotted feeding the birds in nothing but a back-to-front thong has been told he committed a sexual offence.

Little was left to the imagination of shocked onlookers near David Batchelor’s home in the Muirton area in June.

A passing group of schoolchildren only missed being confronted with his exposed private parts after he stepped behind a bush.

Neighbours spotted Batchelor (58) in the common close at his home in Carnegie Place at around 3pm on June 7.

“They could clearly see that he was wearing only a thong and that this appeared to be worn incorrectly, exposing his genitalia,” said depute fiscal Hannah Kennedy.

“He was seen to walk between the common close and the entrance and then to hide behind bushes when persons approached.

“A large group of school-children passed the location at this time.”

Batchelor was then seen to disappear into his flat, before returning to the common close, still wearing the thong and still exposed. Concerned by his behaviour, the witnesses contacted the police, who quickly traced the accused.

“Officers considered him to be under the influence of alcohol, though not to excess,” Mrs Kennedy added. “At that point he was naked from the waist up, but was searched and found to still be wearing the thong.”

Batchelor told officers he had simply been feeding the birds a pie.

Asked about the presence of the schoolchildren, he told officers he had looked at the schoolgirls, “like he looked at everyone else, because they’re bonny.” When officers pressed the accused about a sexual aspect to the offence he replied, “If I was wanting to do that I would go down the town and get a whore.”

Batchelor admits that on June 7 he conducted himself in a disorderly manner by repeatedly and indecently walking between the common close at Carnegie Place and the public street while wearing only a thong as clothing.

The charge states that, as the thong was on the wrong way round, his private parts were exposed and he thereby committed a breach of the peace.

Sheriff Michael Fletcher commented that as the charge specified “repeatedly and indecently,” it clearly indicated that the crown believed the offence to have a sexual aspect.

Solicitor Mike Tavendale accepted that his client had pleaded guilty to that charge.

The sheriff called for a psychological report and an assessment by the Tay Project.

Batchelor will return to court on October 17.