A man who was charged with masturbating in his car as a schoolgirl walked past the window has told the district court that he was actually sanding the handle of a paint roller that was between his legs.

Prosecuting Inspector Tony O’Sullivan told Mallow District Court that Csaba Szentesi, 52, of Evergreen Buildings, Cork was charged with a single count of masturbating in public under Section 45-2-C of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

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Defence counsel John Colthurst BL acting for solicitor Killian McCarthy said that it was not the defence’s case that the girl was lying but that she was simply mistaken.

In a statement Mr Szentesi told the court that he was a painter by trade and was married with two children.

He said that he had arrived in Midleton that morning on his way to a job and stopped for something to eat and a cigarette.

Mr Szentesi said that he had a new paint roller that had a “glossy handle” and he was sanding it down because it was too slippery.

He told the court that it was between his legs and that anyone looking in the window might think it was a penis.

He said: “I am convinced what the young girl saw was the paint roller. Even an adult could confuse the situation.”

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Judge Colm Roberts commended the girl for how she conducted herself in court where she appeared by video link and in the video interview.

He said: “If this was decided on the balance of probabilities I would have no problem convicting this man but because of the seriousness of the charge it must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. On that basis I cannot convict because the evidence does not reach the required threshold.”

The judge said he found the defendant’s explanation novel and told Mr Colthurst: “If your client is cleaning handles again make sure he doesn’t do it near schoolchildren.”

The case was dismissed.