A MAN caught performing a solo sex act on CCTV in his car near a Chester nightclub has received a two-year community order.

Steven Louis Gabriel-Lee, 45, of Bank Cottages, Croughton, had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of outraging public decency, which happened on St John Street near Cruise nightclub on a student night.

Amy Poole, prosecuting at Chester Magistrates Court on Thursday, November 7, told the court Gabriel-Lee had been in his parked Mercedes with the driver side window wound down and could be seen on CCTV camera performing a solo sex act at 11.15pm on Monday, September 2.

The court heard young adult males and females would have been capable of seeing him in the act. He was also seen to be wearing a condom.

Police arrived at 11.20pm and saw Gabriel-Lee in the driving seat. Inside the vehicle were two penis rings, while Gabriel-Lee had a worn condom up his sleeve.

At Gabriel-Lee's last court hearing, prosecutor Adam Warner had told a previous panel of magistrates that Gabriel-Lee told police: "I have just been to the gym, I am waiting for a friend and going to give him some money."

At Thursday's sentencing hearing, Ms Poole told the court that in police interview, Gabriel-Lee said he had been under a lot of stress due to a change of job and his father had recently passed away. He had committed the act to release tension.

When asked why he had wound down the driver's side window, Gabriel-Lee replied it was hot that night.

Gabriel-Lee had one previous conviction for two offences from November 2012, a similar charge of outraging public decency by filming up women's skirts.

Defending, Howard Jones said positive character references including two from Gabriel-Lee's employers had been handed in.

He said a pre-sentence report had emphasised the rehabilitation element of the sentence, while the punishment could be unpaid work or a fine.

Mr Jones added: "He has been completely open with work and discussed it with HR. He has been to see his GP and has done a mental health referral, which he is still awaiting his first appointment.

"He has been subject to an exclusion zone from Chester from 7pm-7am since he was charged.

Chair of magistrates Roy Baron told Gabriel-Lee: "What is of great concern is that this is the second time you have been before the court on this type of charge.

"You are getting very close to crossing the custody threshold; we have taken one step back from that.

"If this happens again the bench will have no hesitation from imposing a custodial sentence."

Gabriel-Lee's two-year community order is to include 30 days of a rehabilitation activity requirement and a sex offender treatment programme.

He must complete 200 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay a £90 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.