Public masturbator appears in court

A "lonely" man has been charged with masturbating in women's public toilets and pestering women for sexual services or their underwear.

Yook Suk Choi, 36, appeared at Christchurch District Court today to admit one charge of obscene exposure in a public place and three charges of offensive language and behaviour.

The court heard the police summary of facts that outlined Choi's bizarre attempts at attracting the opposite sex.

At 11am on September 1 this year, Choi was found inside the women's public toilets near New Brighton pier.

A woman left her toilet stall and saw unemployed Choi "standing there masturbating".

The "shocked" woman asked Choi if he was aware that he was in the women's toilets.

"(Choi) replied that he knew that and the complainant ran out of the toilets," police said.

Just one hour later, a woman came out of the nearby Waimairi Surf Club public toilets when she was approached by Choi.

He asked her if she could take him into the women's toilet and perform a sex act on him.

"The woman was so concerned for her safety that she ran to her car and pretended to use her cellphone, which is when the defendant drove away in his car," the police version of events said.

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Public masturbator appears in court