CLYDE footballer Alan Lithgow has escaped a jail sentence after being branded a "nasty pervert" by a sheriff.

The former Scotland under-19s star exposed himself to four women as he kerb-crawled in his car in Airdrie and Edinburgh.

Lithgow, 20, was put on probation for three years, ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service and put on the sex offenders' register.

Sentencing Lithgow yesterday at Airdrie Sheriff Court, Sheriff Robert Dickson told him: "You might be a good footballer but you are nothing more than a nasty pervert.

"The most I could have jailed you for would have been 12 months but you would have been out by half-time.

"I would have been well within my rights to have jailed you.

"It is inexplicable a young man of your talents, earning a good wage and a professional footballer, the boyhood dream for many youngsters, to have acted in this way.

"It's hard to imagine the harm you may have caused to these women in the long term."

The first offence took place in August 2007 in Petersburn Road, Airdrie, in front of a woman pushing her baby in a pram.

The other three incidents took place on October 15, 2007, at Balerno, Gogar Station, both Edinburgh, and in Airdrie.

Lithgow, of Ross Drive, Cairnhill, Airdrie, was accompanied to court by his wife and other relatives.

Prosecutor Wendy McAdam said when Lithgow was traced by detectives he broke down in tears and admitted the offences.

Lithgow's lawyer Brian Mohan, who submitted a letter of support to the sheriff from Clyde FC, said: "There is little explanation from Lithgow as to why these offences happened and he appreciates the matters are of great concern."

First Division Clyde signed Lithgow in October after he was released by SPL side Hearts.

While awaiting sentence, he has regularly appeared in the first team in the league and Scottish Cup and has been given the full support of the club and manager John Brown.

Lithgow denied two other offences, one of public indecency and another of breach of the peace, which were accepted by the Crown.

Clyde FC director John Ruddy said: "The matter will be discussed by the board before we reach an outcome regarding the player's future."