A homeless man has appeared in court accused of exposing himself during the Shindig festival near Ilminster last month.

Fifty-eight-year-old Allan McKenzie was allegedly seen by festivalgoers performing a sexual act in his tent while the doors were open, which was said to have been caught on a video clip.

When he was arrested by police he was also found in possession of cannabis which he admitted to smoking.

McKenzie, of no fixed address, appeared in the dock before District Judge Angela Brereton sitting at Yeovil.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of intentionally exposing his genitals intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm or distress on May 29.

He pleaded guilty to a further allegation of possession of cannabis (class B).

Prosecutor Emma Lenanton said that after being arrested for the alleged indecent exposure offence the defendant was searched and found to have a small piece of green vegetable matter in his trouser pocket.

It was examined by police and later found to be 1.4g of the drug.

Guy Adams, defending, said it was a small amount of cannabis clearly for personal use adding that his client was on benefits and finding it extremely difficult to find employment.

He added that McKenzie did not accept the exposure case and that matter was adjourned until July 18 when he must attend a pre-trial hearing at Taunton Crown Court.

For the cannabis offence he was fined £120 with a £34 victim surcharge and an order was made for the destruction of the drug.