A MAN was seen performing a sex act upon himself in the grounds of a Bournemouth church.

Richard James Maguire, 60, and of Gerald Road, Charminster, was found guilty of committing the indecent exposure offence at St Clement’s Church in St Clement’s Road, Boscombe, on August 21 last year.

Prosecuting, Victoria Hill told Poole Magistrates’ Court the incident took place just after 6.30pm in the evening.

One of the young women who saw Maguire’s lewd act provided a victim personal statement, which said she suffered very bad anxiety since the incident.

She said she was “disgusted” by Maguire’s actions, adding that she can “only be thankful that no children saw this behaviour”.

Magistrates issued a two-year community order, with a requirement to complete 30 rehabilitation activity days and follow a four-month overnight curfew. Maguire was placed on the sex offenders register for five years and issued with a sexual harm prevention order for the same period.

He was ordered to pay £240 costs, £95 surcharge and £100 compensation to the woman who provided the victim personal statement.

His pornographic material was forfeited and destroyed by police.

If you are interested in court and crime news, stay up to date with all our latest updates in our dedicated Facebook group. To find out more and to join click here.