OAP pulled down swimming shorts and masturbated at posh Lothians spa

Robert Nicoll dropped his swimming shorts in front of two shocked females during a steam room session at Duncan Bannatyne’s spa in West Lothian.

He then performed a solo sex act on himself, a court heard.

The women reported the 75-year-old to staff at the Dragon’s Den millionaire’s plush £400-a-year spa in Livingston, and police were called.

Rebecca Swansey, prosecuting, said officers later reviewed CCTV footage which showed Nicoll soaking himself in the Jacuzzi before going to sit in the steam room.

As the two women watched appalled, he stood up, pulled his shorts down, sat down again and began masturbating.

Ms Swansey told the court that one of the shocked witnesses turned to the other and said: “Look at what that guy is doing!”

The women then walked away from where the accused was to the other end of the pool area.

She added: “The accused thereafter moved out of sight for a short time and then left the locus.”

Nicoll pleaded guilty yesterday to committing an offence of public indecency by exposing his penis and masturbating in the club on 26 August this year.

Mike Bell, defending, described his client as a “retired professional gentleman”.

He told court that until the current offence Nicoll had led “an unblemished life”.

He told the court: “He’s deeply ashamed of the position he’s in.

“He had a membership from this place which has now been cancelled.

“From the outset he has been disarmingly frank about the unacceptability of his conduct.

“He’s never sought to hide what he did and he’s pled guilty at the first opportunity.”

He added: “I asked as late as this morning why he behaved as he did and he said: ‘I can’t really explain it. It was just a whim and I’m deeply ashamed.’

“Given the lack of previous offending it’s my respectful submission that this court appearance ought to be sufficient to ensure that Mr Nicoll never offends again.

“While those who saw him were right to be concerned it doesn’t seem to have been too disturbing.

“This was a foolish old man who thought he was in privacy doing something from which.

“It must be said, he’ll suffer some humiliation.”

Sheriff Jamie Gilmour fined Nicoll £800 and added his name to the sex offenders’ register for three years.