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A horrified mum has described the moment her four-year-old son spotted a man pleasuring himself while eating a cream cake on a busy Plymouth shopping street.

The sickening scene was witnessed by the mother on Mutley Plain in broad daylight, as parents were on the school run.

She dialled 999 after her young son alerted her to the "disgusting pervert" loitering outside the closed-down Cats Protection charity shop.

He was leaning against a festive window display at the neighbouring Children's Hospice South West store while performing an indecent act.

Police say they searched for the man but could not locate him. A witness appeal has been launched.

Warning: This article contains a graphic account of the incident as well as a less pixelated version of the image. Although we have blurred it, please do not scroll down if you are easily offended.

The shocked mother, who did not wish to be named, said the incident happened at around 3.55pm on Tuesday.

She has issued a detailed description of the man, whose face Plymouth Live has to blur for legal reasons, in the hope he does not strike again.

The mum said: "I had just picked my four-year-old son up from school and was parking up outside the shops when he shouted “Mummy, look what that man’s doing!”.

(Image: Submitted)

"At first I just noticed the cream cake he was ramming into his face, but then I saw his other hand on his exposed genitals fondling himself.

"I was absolutely horrified. I just told my little boy not to look at him.

"I abandoned the parking and jumped out the car to shout at him.

"By that point he’d started urinating right there on to the street, in full view of anyone who happened to be walking past. He wasn’t making any attempt to conceal it.

"I shouted at him to put it away and clear off and realised he was steaming drunk as he shuffled away.

"I phoned 999 and described where he was going, towards the Co-op, and they said they’d try and send a unit out.

"I’m absolutely furious. He’s a disgusting pervert."

The man is described white and aged between 50 and 60. He was wearing a blue shell suit and a white baseball cap.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police have received reports of indecent exposure on Mutley Plain Lane in Plymouth.

"It was reported that at around 4pm on Tuesday, December 17, a man had indecently exposed himself and urinated.

"Officers attended and searched the area but did not locate the man.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 567 17/12/19."