A 67-year-old Felixstowe man has been ordered to pay compensation to members of the public who witnessed him masturbating in the town.

Alexander Fairfull, of Reynolds Court, Felixstowe, also avoided going straight to jail when magistrates handed him a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for two years.

Suffolk Magistrates yesterday (Thursday) heard how Fairfull was spotted masturbating in public near his home in July last year and before being caught again on October 19 on Grange Farm Road in the resort. 

He admitted one charge committing an act outraging public decency. but denied the second charge involving the  Reynolds Court incident., when he appeared in court last March, however was convicted by magistrates.

Probation services compiled a pre-sentence report which magistrates ordered and during sentencing prosecutor Wayne Ablett, revealed Fairfull has two relevant previous convictions for similar offences in 1988 and 1999. 

Im mitigation Kemi Rufai, said Fairfull was remorseful and his behaviour was due to highly stressful situations, after his wife had been admitted to hospital on the morning of one of the offences. 

The court heard Fairfull was her carer and any immediate prison sentence would have a detrimental effect on her welfare.

Magistrates agreed the offences crossed the custody threshold but sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment for the Grange Farm Road offence and eight weeks for the Reynolds Court incident to be served consecutively. 

However, magistrates suspended the 20-week sentence for two years, ordered Fairfull to complete 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days and complete the Horizon programme .

Each of the three people who bore witness to the incidents are to be paid £200 compensation by Fairfull, who must also pay £100 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £128.