A CHEF who pulled down the trousers of a 19-year-old in a pub has been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register.

Paul Andrew Peggs, of Newby Street, Ripon, appeared before York Crown Court on Tuesday and admitted pulling down the young man's trousers, but denied touching him when he did so.

The court heard the 19-year-old man was drinking with friends in The Navigation pub in Ripon on January 8 this year, when he and a female friend went into the outdoor smoking area at about 1.30am.

There, they were approached by Peggs, 41, who commented on the colour of the teenager's hair, then asked what his natural colour was. The court heard Peggs then lifted up the man's shirt and grabbed his jeans, pulling them down to expose his pubic hair.

The court heard the victim pulled his clothes back on and sat down to prevent further embarrassment, then felt "angry and upset", about what had happened and the landlord and landlady noticed him crying.

Peggs approached the teenager and tried to apologise, and told him he "didn't mean anything by it". Sophie Drake, prosecuting, said that when interviewed Peggs said "it was banter, nothing sexual".

Recorder of York Judge Paul Batty QC said: "That sort of activity is deeply upsetting and deeply humiliating for that young man."

"I do not consider it a prank. It was really rather more than that, and deeply distressing for the young man involved."

Peggs was given a 12-month community order with 200 hours unpaid work, pay £750 compensation , and £250 costs. He'll be on the sex offenders' register for five years.