A 33-YEAR-OLD man caught 'pleasuring' himself in the Burnley bus station toilets blamed his behaviour on the former legal high spice.

Blackburn magistrates heard the 'unseemly' incident occurred at about 3.30pm and the man who first witnessed it had to remain in the toilets when a schoolboy came in.

Jan Peter Clough, of Bridge Street, Rishton, pleaded guilty to sexual activity in a public lavatory.

He was fined £120 with £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

Alex Mann, prosecuting, said the witness went into the toilets and saw Clough masturbating while looking at himself in the mirror.

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Clough withdrew into the cubicle before a schoolboy came into the toilets.

"The witness remained in the toilets until the boy left and then he called the police," said Mrs Mann.

Ben Leech, defending, said Clough had gone to Burnley for an appointment at the Department of Work and Pensions and by chance had met up with an old friend.

"The two of them were having a chat on the canal bank when the other man produced what my client assumed was a cannabis spliff," said Mr Leech.

"They shared it but he says it didn't have the usual smell or taste of cannabis and his friend then said it was spice."

Mr Leech said following that Clough had little recollection of his actions.

"Following his arrest he was shown and told what he had done but he still finds it difficult to come to terms with his behaviour," said Mr Leech.