A VAN driver followed two 18-year-old girls in his vehicle after being seen performing a sex act in Prestwick, a court has heard.

Krysztof Pietrzyk pleaded guilty to threatening or abusive behaviour in the town’s Main Street on March 13. 

The 44-year-old, who was assisted by a Polish translator during a hearing at Ayr Sheriff Court, avoided custody and was not placed under sex offender registration requirements - despite the nature of the offence.

Pietrzyk, of Canon's Place in Thetford, Norfolk, was given unpaid work and placed under supervision - after the court heard he had apologised to the teenagers for his conduct, saying he experiencing 'acute emotional difficulties'.

The procurator fiscal depute said: “At 11pm the complainers were walking in Prestwick. 

“They observed a large white van driving slowly. It turned at the junction then turned back along Main Street and then parking."  

The prosecutor said the pair could see the man performing a sex act, and that they then crossed to the other side of the street before seeing the same van pass them again, then turning slowly on to nearby Kyle Street.

“The complainers were alarmed and spoke to a delivery driver nearby," the fiscal depute continued, "then contacted police. 

“Police made inquiries in respect to the registration. The complainers identified the accused from a photo book. 

“The accused was contacted by telephone and advised he would be reported to the procurator fiscal." 

Referring to a background social work report, defence solicitor Tony Currie said: "I don’t seek to rehearse the background personal circumstances. 

"His acute emotional personal circumstances overcame him.  

“For that reason the report suggests intervention. The incident the client’s wife is aware of.

"It has not eased difficulties but the couple have moved to proceed to counselling. 

“The impact on the complainers is not lost on him. He expressed his remorse and apologises.  

“At the time he was working in the area, but that is no longer the case.” 

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said: “You are now going to be subject to a community payback order as an alternative to custody.  

“You will also perform 100 hours of unpaid work, modified from 150 since you pleaded guilty.

"You will have 12 months to do the work.”