A JURY has been told not to feel sympathy for a Mid Devon man accused of trying to flash at two teenage boys and propositioning them for sex.

Robert Williams, 23, from Hemyock, near Cullompton denied two offences of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, when his trial began at Exeter Crown Court on Monday.

He also denied two charges of attempted sexual exposure, also involving the same alleged incident in February last year.

The court heard that an adult man allegedly spotted Williams approaching two teenage boys, who were sat together, making sexual suggestions to them and trying to expose himself.

Prosecutor Jonathan Barnes told the jury: "You may conclude Mr Williams presented rather a sad figure.

"You may even have some degree of sympathy for the man at the time, who may have been somewhat disturbed. Beware of sympathy."

Mr Barnes said the charges involved one incident, in the Mid Devon area, when Williams had been drinking.

Further details about some of the circumstances are not being published, to avoid identifying the boys who were both under 16.

The boys, who are from Mid Devon, were chatting together when Williams approached.

Mr Barnes said: "The defendant made some very unusual remarks."

These included asking the boys how much they would charge for various sexual acts.

"One of the boys could see through the open fly of the defendant's trousers," said Mr Barnes.

"He says that he and the other teenager looked at each other as if to communicate, 'what on earth is going on?'"

He said the other youngster's account was similar, although there were some differences in detail.

"The boy says the defendant was being weird, laughing as he was talking and taking his trousers up and down," said the prosecutor. "He said the man's manner was aggressive."

Mr Barnes said an adult checked what was happening, having earlier encountered Williams who was "in a pretty strange state".

It is claimed the adult chased the defendant away from the boys, after seeing he was exposing himself, then alerted police.

When the defendant was arrested, he made "rather bizarre remarks" to officers and needed an 'appropriate adult' as well as a solicitor to accompany him during interviews.

Mr Barnes told the jury the first two charges involved Williams encouraging the boys to behave sexually, rather than any sexual touching happening.

"We don't suggest what the defendant did went anywhere beyond this very extraordinary language and very extraordinary behaviour," he said. "We don't suggest he did anything sexual towards each boy."

The prosecutor did not tell the jury what the defence case was going to be.

He said: "You will have to see what the issue is in this case but it may be 'did what the boys say happen, happen or not?'"

Williams is on bail, represented by defence counsel Charles Nelson. The trial continues.