A FLACKWELL Heath man has been fined £1,000 for exposing himself to a young couple at a popular nature spot.

Neil Garner, of Common Road, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to a charge of outraging public decency.

The 41-year-old exposed himself at around 11pm on October 10, last year, after he saw the couple turn their car lights on and off while parked in Mad Bess Wood, Ruislip.

Flashing lights on and off is a signal often used by "doggers" people who meet in public places to watch or take part in sexual acts.

But the couple, a man, 20 and a woman, 18, who had been sat with their car engine running, had only switched the lights on to check the petrol gauge.

According to police, Garner mistook the flashing as an invitation, pulled up alongside the couple, opened the door of his car and started performing a sexual act. The male got out of the vehicle and confronted Garner, asking him what he was doing.

Realising his mistake, Garner drove off with his trousers around his ankles, added police.

The couple followed Garner, who pulled over and apologised saying he thought their flashing of the car lights was an invitation for him to come over, said officers.

When the man explained he was going to report the incident to police, Garner was said to have driven away.

Police traced his car's licence plate and he was picked out of an identity parade by the man and woman.

Speaking after the court case on Friday, January 21, when Garner was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to each victim, PC David Wood, from the community action team at Northwood, said: "Mad Bess Wood is used by many people of all ages. They should be able to do this safely. Full credit should go to the young couple who reported this incident for their determination to bring this man to justice.

"Police regularly patrol this area and I would ask members of the public who use the woods to report any suspicious incidents."