A man charged with indecent assault after being accused of fondling and 'wining' up on a woman while she slept, was sentenced to 10 days in jail after admitting that he had only been "playing with himself".

The accused, David Dennis, pleaded not guilty to indecent assault, but guilty to the lesser charge of indecent exposure, in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The court was told that on the night in question, Dennis gyrated on the female complainant while she slept. He, however, challenged the police account and told the court, "I never molest her. I was only playing with myself." He admitted that he had done this in the complainant's presence.

Dennis told the court that he had spent a little over a month in jail so far. Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey told the accused, "you must go to bush with these things, don't go near anybody. Serve 10 more days and then go home."