yesterday given a suspended prison sentence in Magistrates' Court.

Magistrate Charles-Etta Simmons also advised Alan Whitecross, who pleaded guilty to masturbating in public on June 26, to seek professional help.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Earl Kirby said a young woman riding her motorcycle along Horseshoe Bay at 7:15 p.m. came across Whitecross lying naked on a grass bank masturbating himself.

She later identified him from Police files. Officers arrested Whitecross who admitted the offence in a Police statement.

Mr. Alan Dunch, defending, said Whitecross was aware he had a problem and had sought psychiatric counselling in the past. He added that although Whitecross had three previous convictions for similar offences, he had no history of violence.

Mrs. Simmons said the public deserved to be protected from such behaviour. But she said Whitecross seemed aware of his problem and was prepared to continue to seek professional help.

She gave him a one month prison sentence suspended for a year and a $500 fine.

SHOPLIFTERS CAUGHT CTS Shoplifters caught Two shoplifters were caught in the act during Friday's late night shopping.

Police reported that just before 8 p.m. the staff at a Reid Street store noticed an 11-year-old leaving the store with some toys he had not paid for.

The youth was detained while Police were called.

A 16-year-old was detained a short while later by staff after allegedly stealing some food items.