A man found masturbating in a shopping centre carpark after seeing an attractive woman was fined $1500 at Fremantle Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

The police prosecutor said Michael Wallace, 60, was caught in the act in his parked car at a shopping centre on Beeliar Drive.

He drove off before police caught up to him.

Wallace pleaded guilty to the charge of performing an indecent act in public.

His lawyer Andrew Williams said Wallace had been sitting in his car when he noticed an “attractive” woman in the car next to him, who then drove off.

Wallace then “commenced the actions” and thought he would not be seen because of his car’s tinted windows.

Magistrate Nicholas Lemmon accepted the circumstances and said the maximum sentence was nine months prison or a $9000 fine.

He accepted it was an opportunistic act and not premeditated.

Wallace was also fined $205.30 in court costs.