A MAN who was arrested after a paper girl reported seeing him standing naked at his living room window dodged a possible jail sentence yesterday (Wednesday).

Daniel Beveridge (56), formerly of Fairways, Dunfermline, now of Glen Beasdale Court in the city, pleaded guilty last month to public indecency.

The incidents occurred on a number of occasions between January 1st 2013 and 16th April 2014 at his former home address.

Sentence had been deferred to yesterday for social background reports.

The paper girl told her gran she had seen Beveridge standing in the buff in the middle of the window on "a number of occasions". Her grandmother called the police.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court, Beveridge was placed on supervision for 12 months.

His name was ordered to be kept the sex offenders' register for the same period.

Azrah Yousaff, prosecuting, told the court, "This came to light after a paper girl delivered papers between 2013 and 2014.

"She went past the accused's house on a few occasions and she saw him standing completely naked at his living room window.

"This happened three or four times. She told her gran about the situation.

"On 15th April 2014, at about 10 to seven in the morning, the paper girl was delivering her papers and when she was delivering them she looked at the accused's house and saw him fully-clothed at his living room window.

"She made a few more deliveries and returned to the accused's house minutes later and as she past she saw him completely naked standing in the middle of the living room window.

"She said she felt uncomfortable and disturbed by this."

Mrs Yousaff added that the next day, on 16th April, the paper girl witnessed Beveridge standing naked again and mentioned it to a neighbour of the accused.

Jonathan Matheson-Dear, defending, said it was "common practice" for Beveridge to sleep naked and then wander around his house with no clothes on.

He said, "It was thoughtlessness on his part. He now accepts that he was visible to the public.

"There is no indication that his conduct was directed at anyone specifically.

"Mr Beveridge does not appear to the author of the report as someone that requires any assistance.

"I would ask the court to take into account his shame and embarrassment. He is very ashamed and wants to put this behind him."

Sheriff Craig McSherry imposed supervision under the provisions of a community payback order.