A HOUSEWIFE was horrified when she spotted a man exposing himself and performing a sex act in his vehicle in a supermarket car park, a court was told.

Burnley Magistrates heard how the young mum was upset and left shaking after she saw Stephen Roult, 50, at Rawtenstall Asda.

The father-of-one's response to the police when later questioned about her claims was: "The woman's mad."

Roult asked if she was a "local nutter" and said she may have had a grudge against him. After he was arrested a scanner was found in his car which tuned into the police. The self-employed catalogue distributor was said to have left Asda "sharpish," when he heard his registration number transmitted.

The defendant, a former supervisor at Lambert Howarth shoe factory, told the court he was a keen 'plane spotter and regularly took his disabled son with him to Manchester Airport. He said it added interest when they could hear the pilot speaking on the scanner.

Roult, of East View, Newchurch, Rossendale was convicted of indecent exposure with intent to insult a female. He was cleared of intercepting without authorisation a message sent by wireless telegraphy. Roult, who denied both allegations, was fined £250 and must pay £100 costs.

Mrs Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said the woman was putting her shopping in her car when she saw Roult's exposing himself and performing a sex act on himself.

Questioned by his solicitor Philip Whittaker, Roult said no complaint of indecent behaviour had ever been made against him and there had not been any allegations of harassing women or improper behaviour at work.

Roult said he had then been killing time in his car, looking through the glove compartment.