Indecent act frightens girls in park

A day at a Palmerston North park ended with a frightening experience for two girls when they saw a 50-year-old man performing a lewd act in the bushes, Palmerston North District Court was told yesterday.

The girls, aged 11 and 12, were playing on the flying fox at the Esplanade about 5pm on February 4 when they saw the man with his pants down by his ankles, touching himself.

They ran off and found a woman who called police.

Mark Edwin Hill initially denied being at the playground and told police he "had no need to go to any park", police prosecutor Sergeant Murray Lyons said.

The unemployed man was convicted of doing an indecent act by Judge Jennifer Binns.

He was remanded in custody and will reappear for sentencing in May.

- © Fairfax NZ News