A MAN exposed himself to teenagers after a long drinking session, a court was told.

Duncan Tait, 24, admitted exposing himself outside the Blacksmith's Arms, in Thirsk, on February 22.

The 24-year-old, of Regent Mount, Harrogate, was seen outside the pub at 9.30pm with his trousers down and jacket open, Northallerton magistrates heard.

A 14-year-old girl complained to a police officer, who arrested Tait inside the pub.

Xanthe Tait, prosecuting, said the defendant had a drink problem and had been drinking since 11am.

She said he had earlier argued with the teenagers over cigarettes allegedly stolen from him.

Geoff Boothby, mitigating, said that after the row Tait went back inside the pub, but the group threw snowballs at the window where he was sitting.

"For reasons he can't explain, he went outside and exposed himself. He meant it to be just to the males," he said.

After the offence, Tait took a large quantity of paracetamol tablets, which Mr Boothby said was a cry for help.

"He has suffered greatly with anxiety and depression and there have been a lot of things in his life that have led up to this."

Sentence was adjourned until April 27 for psychiatric reports.