An amateur weatherman who exposed himself to two teenage girls as they walked to school has avoided being sent to prison.

Shaun Maltby, 29, who ran the Kent Weather website from his home in Carnation Road, Strood, was handed a suspended jail term, despite having two previous convictions for exposure.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that since his arrest Maltby, who sat in the dock with his head bowed throughout most of the hearing, had "significantly reduced his reliance on pornography" and was addressing his problems through cognitive behavioural therapy.

Imposing 15 weeks jail suspended for two years, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said it was an aggravating feature to the case that he had not just exposed himself to the girls but had also performed a sex act.

"This must have been a horrible, perhaps frightening, experience, one which they are frankly unlikely to ever forget.

"You acted for personal sexual gratification which, it appears, was heightened by the risk which you ran by committing it in the circumstances which you did."

The judge also remarked that Maltby had "failed to take advantage" of the help offered to him by the probation service following his earlier convictions in 2009.

However, he concluded that although a prison sentence was "demanded" it could be suspended as Maltby's remorse and recognition of his problem suggested he was now receptive to further intervention.

"this must have been a horrible, perhaps frightening, experience, one which they are frankly unlikely to ever forget" – judge david griffith-jones

As part of the sentence Maltby will be supervised for two years by the probation service, must attend a sex offender treatment programme and sign on the sex offenders' register for seven years. He will also be barred from working with children.

The court heard the girls, who were aged 14 or 15, were walking along Carnation Road just before 8.30am on November 8 last year when Maltby appeared naked from the waist down at his front door.

Prosecutor Francesca Levett said he was looking straight at the girls who carried on walking past.

However, when one looked back she saw Maltby standing by his front room window. Miss Levett said he was holding the net curtain back with one hand while performing a sex act on himself with the other.

Maltby was arrested but denied the offence. He claimed his house was too cold for him to walk around naked and he only stood at the window to check the weather.

Both girls picked out Maltby in an identification procedure but he maintained his denials.

However, when he appeared before Medway magistrates in January he pleaded guilty to the offence and the case was committed to the crown court for sentence.

Weatherman Shaun Maltby has been on the sex offenders' register since 2009

Christina Rowberry, defending, said Maltby had targeted the girls because of their gender, not age, and that his "attitude and acceptance and understanding" of his behaviour had changed significantly.

Urging the court to impose a suspended sentence she added that he would have to be jailed for a year or more to be supervised by probation upon his release.

"Despite the fact from some perspectives he deserves an immediate custodial sentence, the achievement would be very short and offer very short protection for any females."

The court was told that Maltby exposed himself to a cashier at a branch of Somerfield in May 2008. He denied the offence but was found guilty.

Just three months later he exposed himself again to a 22-year-old customer services clerk at a branch of NatWest. On that occasion he admitted his guilt.

He was given a 24 month-long community order for both offences.