TRUCKERS on a busy Hampshire road could hardly believe their eyes when a driver slowly overtook them with his trousers and underpants around his knees.

David Neville, 47, drove alongside with his interior light on and then took his time overtaking them.

A woman HGV driver said she was "bemused" when it first happened on the east bound section of the A31 between Ringwood and Southampton but when Neville repeated the practice a week later, she was "shocked" and "visibly shook."

Two male colleages told police they were "offended" and described his behaviour as "disgusting" and "wrong."

Neville, of Parkville Road, Swaythling, Southampton, admitted four charges of outraging public decency and was fined £3,000 with £300 costs. He had been arrested following complaints to the police.

Neville claimed he had to "adjust" his clothing after spilling a hot drink over his lower stomach and genitals.

After that, it was his "custom" to drive home from work at a Ringwood publishing company in the same way as he "enjoyed the physical freedom."

He also maintained he had left the interior light on while driving at night as it reduced the glare from oncoming traffic.

Mitigating at the city crown court, lawyer Angus Robertson said Neville accepted the truckers had been shocked and disgusted by his behaviour but it was never his intention to offend them.

"He feels considerable embarrassment and shame at appearing in court and it is unlikely they will be repeated."

Passing sentence, Judge Tom Longbotham referred to Neville's basis of plea that he denied his offending was sexually motivated and how he had scalded himself with hot water while driving.

The judge remarked: "That was an extremely stupid thing to do when driving.

"You say you had put the interior lights on to reduce the glare from oncoming traffic but that is as odds with some of the facts but I must sentence you on your basis of plea."

He then told Neville: "You behaved in a thoroughly stupid, reckless and thoughtless manner."