A MAN exposed himself and carried out a sex act on the platform of the miniature railway at Trago Mills.
Phillip Plumridge, 47, from near Buckfastleigh, was found guilty on Tuesday at Torquay Magistrates' Court.
Prosecuting, Scott Horner said Plumridge had exposed himself on the platform of the railway and carried out a sex act in front of a female employee of Trago Mills on Tuesday, April 29.
The woman told the court she had struck up a conversation earlier with Plumridge while he was having an ice cream in the cafe.
She said later she noticed his flies were undone and she could see his private parts.
She continued: "I was shocked and did not say anything as I could not believe it.
"I then saw him again from the window of my kiosk and saw him on the platform of the miniature railway."
She said she saw him carrying out a sex act.
She told magistrates: "He was staring at me. I felt sick and his action worried me."
Mitigating for Plumridge, who was not in court due to medical reasons, Jolyon Tuck said Plumridge was actually urinating, or trying to.
In his police interview, which formed the basis of the defence, Plumridge said his flies are always undone as they have no button on them but he was unaware that his penis was showing.
"I was trying to pee," he said in his police statement. "When you have to pee, you have to pee. Sometimes I have to do it for a few minutes and to pee I have to press on my bladder."
The court heard that Plumridge had a medical condition resulting from gall bladder surgery that means he could get caught short and takes longer to urinate.
Plumridge said he did not think he could be seen and did not want to be seen, and thought the railway was closed that day and it was all quiet.
"I was going for a pee in public, I am guilty of that," he added in his statement.
Magistrates found Plumridge guilty of one charge of exposure saying they believed the evidence of the witness as she had a good view of the incident.
A warrant was issued for Plumridge's arrest so he can appear before the court for sentencing.
