A FORMER teacher convicted of parading naked in front of neighbours has been cleared of a further charge of exposure.

Northallerton magistrates court was told a neighbour reported seeing Andrew Beasley standing at a first floor window naked and exposing his genitals.

Mr Beasley, 41, of Water End, Brompton, denied the offence, said to have been committed at his previous address at Allerton Close in Northallerton.

He told the court he had simply been standing in front of the second floor window, naked from the waist up, but wearing underpants and with a towel round his middle.

The neighbour told the court he had made eye contact with her when she saw him at the first floor window of the house in November 2014.

She added she was shocked and worried and had called the police after collecting her son.

Details of his three previous convictions for exposure were revealed to the court after a “bad character” application to allow the information to be revealed was made by the prosecution.

Prosecuting, Martin Hawes asked Mr Beasley: "Being that you have been convicted of three matters why would you run the risk of people thinking you were doing it again. You didn’t think about buying a dressing gown?”

The defendant said he did not think it was a risk because he was covered up. The court was told Mr Beasley’s wife and children were no longer living with him and he had been working in an abattoir.

He told the police he was not naked because he would not do anything to jeopardise moves to stop the Declaration and Barring Service from barring him from teaching, although he told the court his convictions meant he was not able to work as a teacher.

Defending, Martin Sleights said the witness was aware of stories about Mr Beasley exposing himself and she saw what she feared and what she expected to see.

Mr Beasley added:” I think she has made a mistake because of the stories that have passed around the estate....and she had panicked.”

Magistrates cleared Mr Beasley of the exposure charge.