FORMER Swindon Town player David Cole has been cleared of indecent exposure towards a teenage girl.

Cole, who now lives in Wales, did not contest prosecution claims that he was performing a sex act when the 16-year-old saw him.

The incident happened in 2008 as a Cheltenham Ladies' College pupil walked past his car.

The 47-year-old former defender denied having any intent to cause her fear or distress and was acquitted by a Gloucester Crown Court jury.

Cole, who also played for Torquay, Rochdale and Sunderland, admitted separate allegations of possessing child porn and is scheduled back before the court for sentence on a date to be fixed.

The jury heard that Cole, who was working at a town centre jewellers in Cheltenham at the time of his alleged exposure offence, was seen parked in his Ford Mondeo early in the morning performing a sex act.

Cole's football career began with Laxey FC on the Isle of Man.

In the 1980s, he became a professional playing for Swindon, Torquay, Rochdale, Sunderland and St Mirren.

He was at Torquay from 1986 to1989, playing as a centre defender, and he made 100 appearances, scoring six goals before moving to Rochdale.

Adrian Maxwell, prosecuting, told the jury that on two occasions Cole was seen performing a sex act in his parked car in the centre of Chelten-ham early in the morning.

"He was seen by a schoolgirl who was at the college there," he said.

"She was 16 at the time. "What she says is not disputed by the defence.

"Later on Mr Cole was arrested and the matter was put to him and in an interview he denied the offences."

The girl, who gave evidence via a recorded video tape, said that she told a friend what had happened, as well as the head of the sixth form at the college, who called the police.

Defence barrister, Stephen Jeary, told the jury that there was not enough proof to say that he intended his behaviour to cause any alarm.

He said that from the evidence available it was impossible for the jury to safely say that Cole had intended to cause alarm or distress.

The jury accepted this and found Cole not guilty on both counts.

After the verdict judge Michael Harrington heard Cole had previously admitted possessing 16 images of child sex.

The judge reserved the case to himself and bailed Cole to return on a date to be fixed.