HORRIFIED onlookers watched as a man exposed his buttocks and “parted them in a talking motion” in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close, a court heard.

Dean Andrew Cooper, 30, entered the Close on June 21 and started looking up the skirts of three young women who were sunbathing.

A member of the public, who was with her two children, saw what was happening and confronted Cooper.

Winchester Crown Court heard on Friday he then exposed himself in front of about 200 people.

Recorder William Ashworth, sentencing, said: “You were challenged by a member of the public and your reaction was, in front of those other females and children, to bare your buttocks and pull your cheeks apart in what appeared to be mimicry of talking, in full view of the public.” Cooper admitted outraging public decency and a separate charge of forgery, relating to a fake doctor’s note he presented to police in a bid to avoid returning to police bail earlier this year.

Defending Cooper, Mark Raffell said the incident was “shocking, distasteful and upsetting” but urged Recorder Ashworth to suspend a prison sentence.

“He has been in and out of court like a revolving door,” said Mr Raffell. “He wants this chance. He is 30 years of age and it’s getting too much for him.”

But Recorder Ashworth said Cooper, who has been in court for 101 offences, would be unlikely to abide by a community order as he has breached many others in the past.

“This year your behaviour has taken a more sinister and concerning aspect,” said Recorder Ashworth. “In the report you fail to acknowledge the seriousness of your behaviour or accept it as a problem.”

Cooper, of Hudson Road, Salisbury was sentenced to six months in prison for outraging public decency and four months for forgery.