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A 49-year-old man spotted indulging in a sex act while driving naked along a busy motorway got carried away in a ‘messaging conversation’, a court heard.

Neal Marshall, of Strawberry Green, Whitby was seen by a HGV driver as he performed the sex act while driving his Ford Escort naked down the M56 in Chester.

The 49-year-old appeared before Chester magistrates charged with an act of outraging public decency after exposing himself on August 8.

Marshall, who was convicted of the same offence back in 2008 at Stafford Crown Court, was handed a 12 month community order and a 12 month supervision order during the hearing yesterday (Wednesday).

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £60.

The court heard how, on the afternoon of August 8, a HGV driver was driving on the M56 when he spotted Marshall steering his car while indecently touching himself.

He was naked and no one else was in the car.

Prosecuting, Rob Youd said the HGV driver took the vehicle’s number plate which the police then used to contact the driver. When interviewed by police Marshall answered no comment.

Defending, Adrian Evans, said the facts of the case were ‘bizarre’ but that Marshall had been engaged in a ‘messaging conversation’ and got ‘carried away’.

“This does not excuse his actions but it goes a way to explain why he was seen doing it,” said Mr Evans.

“He bitterly regrets his actions. He never intended to be seen by a member of the public.”

Marshall, who pleaded guilty to the offence, was handed a six month community order and a six month supervision order back in 2008 after committing the same offence.