A man arrested for spanking a woman on the street in New Orleans claims that he acted in self-defense, reports say.

Christopher Flowers, 38, was arrested by New Orleans police earlier this week for assaulting a woman as she walked past him. Flowers, the victim said, complimented her as she walked past him and then reached out and smacked her on the rear end.

The woman alleged that Flowers then said, “You know you liked it.”

Police arrested Flowers for assault but he explained that he lashed out at the woman in self-defense.

According to the New Orleans police report, Flowers said that the woman was “stalking” him.

“Mr. Flowers stated he was walking on Canal Street when he noticed he was being ‘stalked’ by an unknown female,” the Times-Picayune reported. “Mr. Flowers stated he confronted the female who was following him and stated, ‘Why are you following me? You better stop it.’ Flowers stated the female continued to walk behind him, and that is when he elected to smack her on the butt.”

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