A FORMER volunteer at a disabled persons' swimming club who committed a solo sex act at a Chester leisure centre has received a community order.

Adrian Venables, 56, of Kerry Croft, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to outraging public decency in the public changing rooms at the Northgate Arena Leisure Centre in Victoria Road on August 13, 2018.

Chester Magistrates Court, on Thursday, October 31, accepted Venables' basis of plea that while he had committed the act, he had not intended anyone to see him, intending the act to be private, and was not aware anyone had seen him.

Magistrates handed Venables, who is profoundly deaf, a low-level 12-month community order which would include up to 15 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement.

Prosecuting, Rob Youds told the court the victims who saw Venables perform the solo sex act were two 12-year-old boys who had been swimming.

The boys had reported the incident to their parents, who contacted police and staff at the Northgate Arena were informed.

They identified Venables as someone who had been going to the centre for a number of years as he had been a volunteer at a disabled persons' swimming club.

Mr Youds told the court Venables was of previous good character, with no convictions or cautions.

Defending, Richard Sibeon said Venables had made a significant statement when arrested which explained the "unique circumstances" in this case.

Venables was living with his mum and did not wish to commit the solo sex act at home, and instead decided to commit it in the showers at the leisure centre.

He was not being an "exhibitionist" and had his back to the changing rooms, and was unaware the boys could see him in the act.

Since being arrested, he had spent 15 months with bail conditions not to enter leisure centres with changing rooms, and all the organisations where he volunteered were aware of the offence and some had provided letters of support to the court.

Venables had worked as a gardener until having to stop due to a back injury.

He had been volunteering at the local deaf club in Chester, working three to four days per week at the bar.

Mr Sibeon added that due to the "experimental" methods of teaching language at the deaf school Venables was at when growing up, he had a limited understanding of certain issues and did not have the impression, when arrested, that what he had done was a crime.

He had showed remorse and there was a lack of maturity.

Mr Sibeon suggested, given the highly unusual circumstances of the case, that a conditional discharge would be a suitable sentence given Venables was unlikely to reoffend.

Chair of magistrates Maurice McBride said: "We discussed this at length during the morning. We have come up with the sentence, having duly considered the basis of plea given to us and totally accepted by the court and prosecution."

As well as the 12-month community order, Venables must pay a £100 fine plus £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was not deemed necessary in this case.