Scottish pensioner who did gardening in his kilt admits charge of public indecency
Last updated 28th Sep 2023
A 73-year-old Scot who did gardening in a "short kilt" this summer, with no underwear on, has admitted a charge of public indecency.
Leslie Mackenzie was reported to police by neighbours in Chirnside, Berwickshire, after they found him bent over - exposing his private parts.
One told officers she was "shocked" at what she saw, while another said she stopped her children going into their garden when the pensioner was outside.
Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Thursday) heard Mackenzie is also banned from a number of establishments in the area because of his behaviour.
Drew Long, prosecuting, said: "It appears people are at the end of their tether with him."
And he added: "They (the neighbours) believed he was doing this in order to show off."
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The court heard police had offered the retired mill worker advice about his behaviour after the alarm was first raised in May. But ten days later he offended again.
Mackenzie's solicitor, Ed Hulme, said his client, who lives with his wife and has failing eyesight, felt officers advice was in relation to how he conducted himself in public - on buses and in cafes - and didn't realise it applied to his own garden.
But he added: "He accepts there was a degree of recklessness to his behaviour."
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Mackenzie, who appeared in court wearing a kilt, admitted repeatedly exposing his genitals at his home in Lammerview, Chirnside, between May 4th and June 1st this year.
Sentence has been deferred until November the 6th for background reports, and Sheriff Kevin McCarron said he would reserve a decision until that time over whether or not to place him on the Sex Offenders Register.
He said Mackenzie had displayed "concerning behaviour", which persisted over a period of time - despite warnings. And added that the court needs to know a lot more about him before deciding on the appropriate sentence.
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