A Selby man who committed an act of gross indecency act in front of a 12-year-old boy while showing a pornographic video was heckled by youths as he left the town's magistrates court.

David Whatling, 36, who has already served a 12-month prison sentence for indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl, admitted gross indecency with a child and common assault.

Selby magistrates adjourned the case until February 16 and remanded Whatling on unconditional bail.

As he left the court, he was heckled by youths. His solicitor had earlier attended the town's police station, saying she feared for her client's safety.

Andrew Moore, prosecuting, said Whatling, of Dixon Gardens, Selby, lived with his elderly parents and was regularly visited by teenage girls who he supplied with alcohol and cigarettes.

In the afternoon of December 11, a number of girls visited him, accompanied by the 12-year-old boy, to drink and smoke.

Mr Moore said Whatling ignited a deodorant bottle with a lighter, which caught the boy on the side of his face, singeing his eyebrows and hair.

Later that night the 12-year-old was at the house alone with the defendant, who put on a pornographic video.

Mr Moore said while they were watching it, Whatling committed an indecent act in front of the boy for about 15 minutes.

They then went upstairs and got into bed together, top-to-toe.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remained fully clothed and Whatling wore his T-shirt and shorts.

Mr Moore said there was no indication that an assault took place in the bed.

He said the child's mother found him there with Whatling in the morning and called the police. Whatling was arrested and admitted to police that he committed the indecent act, and also confessed he was aware of the boy's age.

Rosalind Wood, mitigating, said the case should be adjourned until pre-sentence reports could be completed by the probation service.

Updated: 12:36 Friday, January 26, 2001