A man was fined £600 after he admitted parading around naked in a university library.
Neil Cox, 27, sat on a chair on the third floor of Stirling University library, wearing nothing but a snood to cover his face, and then browsed books on the shelves.
But he exposed himself in view of a female library user, who was “shocked and alarmed” and reported him to security.
Stirling Sheriff Court was told the incident, on the evening of Sunday January 24, was not sexual but the result of a bizarre dare, however.
Cox, who pled not guilty to a charge of indecent exposure at an earlier hearing, had been due to appear for trial next week.
On Monday he admitted an amended charge of public indecency for which he received the fine.
The Court heard that Cox, an actuary who lives in Bristol, had flown to Scotland to go hillwalking in the Cairngorms.
A dare was hatched with a female friend south of the Border challenging them to be “naked in a library for the duration of a song”.
On his way back from the hills, Cox “spontaneously” chose Stirling University library, which is on the university campus near Bridge of Allan.
He chose what he considered a “secluded” area on the third floor, and filmed himself fulfilling his part of the naked prank, as evidence.
After completing the task to a tune from his mobile phone, he then decided to browse the book shelves on the third floor unclothed.
A female who was using the library reported him to security, who spotted him looking at books.
Adrian Fraser, prosecuting, said the female witness had become aware of a person near her.
He said: “He was sitting upright in a chair completely naked except for a black item of clothing covering his face, which she thought was a balaclava.
“She was shocked and alarmed.”
He added: “When security attended he was standing by some book shelves. He appeared to be selecting some books.”
Cox told police that images on a memory card found in his trouser pocket were “proof of the dare, and he didn’t want anyone to see it.”
Mr Fraser added: “He said he’d identified an area on the third floor and believed he was in a secluded enough spot to proceed without issues.
“He said he was wearing something over his eyes, which he said was a snood.
“Throughout the interview he denied there was any sexual element to the act.”
Cox was excused attendance for what was to be a pre-trial hearing, and was represented in court by his solicitor, Stephen Maguire.
Mr Maguire said: “This was a rather strange dare which Mr Cox became involved in. The circumstances are bizarre in the extreme.”
He added: “He does regret that the witness has been caught up in all this.
“It’s foolish and incomprehensible, but it’s happened.”
Sheriff Chris Shead, issuing a £600 fine to be paid within 28 days, said: “The circumstances are clearly unusual.”
