acts was sentenced to 11 months in prison in Magistrates' Court last week.

"The public has a right to walk the streets of the city without being confronted by acts of indecency,'' acting Magistrate the Wor. Kim White told Lionel Outerbridge.

"Children have to be protected from people like yourself.'' Outerbridge, 42, of Marsh Lane, Pembroke, a labourer with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Parks, committed his most recent offence on the grounds of City Hall on January 2, the court was told.

Sgt. Ken James said a Southampton woman who was using a pay telephone shortly before 5 p.m. saw Outerbridge watching her and masturbating.

Police arrived and found Outerbridge lying on his back with his penis exposed, Sgt. James said.

Outerbridge, who did not have a lawyer, told court he had just finished work and was intoxicated. "I was lying down there waiting for the girl to move from the telephone booth,'' he said. "I tried to put my penis out, because I have problems with my penis.

"I'm sorry.'' Mr. White noted the act occurred not in private, but on a public street.

"You have appeared before this court for similar offences no less than 11 times,'' he told Outerbridge. "That is outrageous.

"Clearly, you have a severe problem, sir, but the public must be protected from such behaviour.'' Mr. White said Outerbridge deserved the maximum sentence of 12 months in prison. But he deducted one month because Outerbridge saved the court's time by pleading guilty.

"I hope...you will get help for your drinking problem and for your other problems, sir.'' If such indecent behaviour persisted, he could be sent to Supreme Court for sentencing the next time, and face a harsher sentence, Mr. White said.