An Isle of Wight man was caught masturbating in a Transit van while in close proximity to an Island school.

Jason Holbrook, of James Close, East Cowes, appeared before Isle of Wight magistrates on Tuesday, November 12.

The 50-year-old admitted an act of outraging public decency, namely masturbating, at Elm Grove in Newport, on April 29.

Prosecutor, Lauren McConnell, said a female witness alerted police to the incident, which was near Nine Acres Primary and playing field.

She said the witness’ attention was drawn to a Transit van parked outside her house.

The court heard she noticed a male in the driver’s seat, and at around 12.45pm, she saw a towel had been put up against the driver’s door window.

The male in the vehicle, Holbrook, could be seen masturbating, both through gaps in the door window and through the windscreen.

Ms McConnell said the witness, shocked by what she saw, informed her partner who went out and challenged him.

She said a young male was also in the area, who Holbrook himself noticed, which led him to remove his mobile phone from his steering wheel.

The court heard the incident took place just up the road from a school and Holbrook had initially denied the offence when interviewed by police, but later pleaded guilty.

He saw his case adjourned to January 24 so a pre-sentence report could be drawn up.

He was granted conditional bail until that date.