A group of teenage girls called police when they saw a man naked in a Lochaber layby on a popular tourist route, a court heard.
Finlay Maciver, 42, who works at Rio Tinto Alcan in Fort William, yesterday pleaded guilty at the town’s sheriff court to exposing himself in front of three girls, who were aged 13 and 14.
Maciver of 10 Inverlochy Court, Inverlochy, also admitted being in charge of a car while more than three times the legal alcohol limit.
Both offences were committed on the Glen Nevis Road at Fort William on April 21.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court the girls, who were part of a larger group of young people, saw Maciver standing naked by his van at about 1pm touching himself.
She said the group shouted at him to put his clothes on and get back in the van, but he did not do so.
Ms Robertson said one of the girls called the police because she was “disgusted” by his behaviour.
Police arrived and found Maciver naked in the back of the van and smelling strongly of alcohol.
Defence solicitor Stephen Kennedy said his client was drinking up to three bottles of wine a day at the time of the offence and now realised he had a drink problem for which he was seeking help.
He added that Maciver had also been taking medication and did not remember anything about the incident.
Mr Kennedy said: “He accepts that it was somewhat bizarre behaviour and he was absolutely shocked and ashamed by it.”
Sheriff Richard Davidson deferred sentencing Maciver until July 22 for a background report. He was also placed on the sex offenders register and given an interim driving ban.
The sheriff told Maciver: “You will understand why your behaviour is of very considerable concern to this court.
“We simply can’t have this type of inappropriate sexual exposure to a gathering of young girls.”