A SERIAL flasher who preyed on lone women on a canal bank was copying a porn film he had been watching, a court heard.

Royston Bruce, 47, exposed himself to four women who were out jogging, or walking to work alone early in the morning in Burnley.

One of the women was so alarmed she started carrying a pepper spray - and used it when she encountered Bruce for a second time and he grabbed her by the arm.

Another victim told him she would kick him in the groin if he came any closer.

On each occasion, Bruce followed the woman, had his genitals exposed and was performing a sex act.

After the final incident, when Bruce exposed himself to a woman and touched her bottom, two engineers working on a canal bridge heard her scream and looked over to see her running away from the defendant.

She was visibly distressed and they called the police before following Bruce in their van and performing a citizen’s arrest, the court heard.

Bruce, of Ivy Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent exposure, a charge of common assault and a charge of sexual assault.

The court heard each of the women was followed by the pervert and felt upset and shaken by their experience.

Prior to the incidents, between October and December last year, Bruce had been watching a porn film and had got the idea from there - although he claimed he did not get much of a kick out of flashing.

Judge Sara Dodd, sentencing, said: “You are now 47 and whilst you have previous convictions they do not give any explanation why at that age you began to offend in this way.

“For a period of about two months, on a number of occasions to different women, you exposed yourself, performing a sex act in front of them, and ultimately you sexually assaulted a woman.

“I have considered long and hard whether or not I should send you immediately to custody.

“It seems to me that you are perhaps a man who has acknowledged he has offended in a sexual way and can be assisted through a sex offenders treatment programme.”

She handed Bruce a 13 month sentence suspended for two years with a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement.

She also made him the subject of a notification requirements and warned Bruce if he offends again or does not comply with the order he will be sent to prison.