Court rules against masturbation claim

LUND, Sweden, May 8 (UPI) -- A 38-year-old man in the Swedish city of Lund was likely scratching an itch rather than masturbating while in view of a neighbor, a court says.

Lund District Court found that the man, who stood accused of sexual molestation charges by his female neighbor, was most likely not pleasuring himself on his home's balcony while the woman was in her nearby kitchen, the TT news agency said Thursday.

The court acquitted the unidentified suspect on all charges after ruling he may have simply been scratching at a rash that was present in his groin area.

The man openly admitted in court he may have been present on his balcony on occasions that his neighbor was in her home's kitchen.

The defendant also admitted his robe may have been open during some of those instances, but insisted such displays were not intentional and only occurred when he was wearing underwear.

The TT news agency said the unidentified woman's boyfriend, whose identity was also not reported, alleged he had seen the man making so-called masturbatory movements while on the balcony.