TRAINSPOTTER Adrian Holdstock got his sexual kicks by watching other men using the toilets at York Railway Station, the city's magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Ann Darwin said the 43-year-old lurked in a cubicle of the men's lavatories between Platform 8 and Platform 9 and peered out at the unsuspecting men.

But on one occasion a member of staff sensed he was being watched and saw the Peeping Tom's shadow behind the cubicle door.

Senior magistrate Joan Visick told Holdstock: "You need some help and some guidance and some support."

Holdstock was handed a two-year community order with two years' supervision and a sex offender's treatment programme. He must also pay £45 costs.

Holdstock, of Chaloners Road, Dringhouses, pleaded guilty to voyeurism.

Magistrates rejected a prosecution bid to make a sex offences prevention order banning Holdstock from entering the toilets or the station, on the grounds he was unlikely to do anyone serious sexual harm.

Martin Hawes, Holdstock's solicitor, said: "He is a very lonely individual with his perfectly legitimate solitary hobby.

"He has, quite clearly, difficulties finding friends and having partners, and that is why he took the action he did. He freely admits it was for sexual gratification."

Mrs Darwin said Holdstock was known by sight to station staff as he regularly visited the station for trainspotting.

On the afternoon of February 10, a member of staff used the toilets. As he did so, he realised one of the cubicles in the area was closed and felt he was being watched.

"He was aware of a shadow moving," Mrs Darwin said.

He called out "Are you all right?" and got the reply "okay", but he was suspicious and told Holdstock: "I don't like what you are doing in there. I would like you to leave."

Holdstock left the toilets.

Arrested by police a week later, he said: "I have been looking at men in the cubicles. I did it last Saturday and got caught."

Mr Hawes said the crime was a "cry for help" and very unsophisticated.