A man who went out to bounce naked on a trampoline at 5am has been placed on the sex offenders' register.

James Burden, who was performing a solo sex act as he jumped up and down, was spotted by chance when his neighbour got up to go to the bathroom. Looking out of her window in Falkirk’s Westquarter, she saw 55-year-old Burden with "a cigarette in one hand and his manhood in the other".

She called the police and Burden was arrested and charged. The witness told police Burden was "as bold brass...and purposeful" in carrying out his aerial solo sex act on March 25 this year.

Asked why he did it, Burden told officers "just for the thrill of it", but added he did not intend on anyone seeing him. Burden faces a single charge of publicly exposing his person in a shameless and indecent manner, and approaching his neighbour's house and placing the occupant in a state of fear and alarm.

Gordon Addison, defending, said that his client claimed to have "only pled guilty to avoid the embarrassment of a trial". Mr Addison added that because of his intention to try to change his plea to "not guilty", Burden had not attended for a meeting with a social worker and a psychologist, as instructed by the court, for the preparation of background reports.

On Thursday, Sheriff Craig Caldwell refused to allow Burden to withdraw his guilty plea, saying he had confirmed it in court after months of legal advice.

Burden’s sentence has now been deferred until July 29 for a social enquiry report, a community service suitability assessment, and an assessment by a psychologist of the risk Burden poses to others.