A MAN who dropped his trousers and exposed himself to a woman in the sheltered accommodation they shared has been spared jail.

Patrick Tolmie had been drinking heavily prior to the incident in Middlesbrough and had also tried to kiss the woman.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said Tolmie, who has now moved in at his brother’s home, was making a nuisance of himself and told police he had drunk a full bottle of vodka.

The victim said the incident had left her “numb” and frightened.

Tolmie, accompanied in the dock at Teesside Crown Court by a representative from mental health charity Mind, admitted exposure on January 25 this year.

Graham Silvester, mitigating said the 25-year-old had been admitted to hospital and had also self harmed, having suffered from depression.

Judge John Walford said Tolmie, of Basil Street, North Ormesby, had social, sexual and mental health needs and was a “tricky case” for treatment.

He said: “You have a record of misbehaving, upsetting people and making a nuisance of yourself.

“That may not be entirely your fault because you do have certain limitations which sadly no-one seems able to deal with.”

The judge gave Tolmie a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years, and said he would sign on the sex offenders register.

He added: “It is up to you to take advantage of the help you receive and stay out of trouble.”