A MAN has been warned he could face prison after he pleaded guilty to exposing himself to two teenage girls.

John Oliver, of Railway Terrace, Crook, County Durham, who appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday, admitted two charges of exposing his genitals.

Jonathan Bamburgh, prosecuting, told how Oliver shouted at the two 16-year-old girls from his car, saying he had something to show them, as he was driving around Bishop Auckland market place on January 12.

One of the girls told police he had parked in the market place and shouted at her again, and that she could see him carrying out an indecent act.

The girls later met two other teenagers and were approached again by the 36-year-old, who they said had followed them up Cockton Hill Road, in the town.

Mr Bamburgh said that in a police interview, Oliver said it was a practical joke and that he had, in fact, pushed his thumb through his shirt.

Clive Booth, on behalf of Oliver, said his client could not explain why he had acted in such a manner and he had suffered untold remorse.

He said: "He still cannot come to terms with what made him act in the way he did."

Bench chairwoman Margaret Creaby told Oliver that magistrates were taking the incident very seriously and were refusing to rule out the possibility of a prison sentence.

The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports and Oliver will return to the court on Tuesday, May 3, for sentencing.