A CHARD man accused of exposing himself to a woman down an alleyway near his home address has been ordered to stand trial in December.

Justin Hembrow was said to have been “grinning from ear to ear” when the shocked witness allegedly saw him standing with his back against the wall and his penis exposed.

She saw two police community support officers on patrol a few minutes later who went to the scene and arrested the defendant, Somerset Magistrates were told.

Hembrow, 24, of Victoria Avenue, was visibly distressed when he appeared in the dock at Yeovil,

He pleaded not guilty to a charge that on September 11 at Chard he intentionally exposed his genitals intending that somebody would see them and be caused alarm or distress.

Prosecutor Suzie Butler said that the incident was alleged to have taken place down an alleyway off Victoria Avenue.

When he was interviewed by police he said he had been locked out of his house without a key and was trying to urinate at the time.

A review of the case was conducted and the matter was adjourned until December 19 when Hembrow was ordered to return to the court for a trial to take place.

Until then he was released on unconditional bail.