A HALF-NAKED pensioner who performed an indecent act while talking to a young boy in Bacup has been banned from the town.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Barry Pettet, 68, had been caught by his horrified, and shocked, next door neighbour at his then home, in Dale Street, in Bacup.

She took the child home, and police were called.

The hearing was told how Pettet, who told officers he had been chatting to the schoolboy about football, had since been remanded in custody for 17 days for his own protection. His property had been attacked and the word ‘paedo’, and other graffiti, had been daubed on his back yard.

Pettet was given a 12- month community order, after admitting committing an act outraging public decency, on July 1.

He was excluded from Bacup, and a new home has been found for him.

Pettet is prohibited from entering any garden, yard, or any communal yard attached to his address, unless dressed in a reasonable manner.

Recorder Anthony Cross, QC, told him: “You can't walk around half-naked in the street.”

Stephen Parker, prosecuting, said at about 7pm, the Pettet’s then next door neighbour's partner told her the defendant was talking to a small boy standing in the back street.

She was concerned, immediately ran upstairs and looked out of the back bedroom window. She saw Pettet standing at the top step of his back yard, near the garden gate, wearing only a vest-type top, performing an indecent act on himself towards a boy.

The child was on the back street, about 10 feet away from him.

The neighbour banged on the window, Pettet turned round, seemed shocked, and looked up. He nearly fell down the steps and ran back into the house.

Mr Parker said Pettet was arrested and, when questioned, admitted committing the indecent act.

He said the boy wasn’t able to see him, and that his yard was private. Pettet claimed he had been talking to the child about football, The prosecutor continued: “He said he wasn’t attracted to young boys. He had not intended for anybody to see what he was doing. He said he was not under the influence of any substances, and he knew what he was doing.

“He was sorry if he upset anybody and had learned his lesson.”

Pettet had no previous convictions.

Recorder Cross told the defendant he had behaved ‘quite disgracefully’ in the presence of the boy.