Port Douglas hairdresser in court for indecent act in Edge Hill car park

A Port Douglas hairdresser who moved to the Far North to escape the wrong crowd in Brisbane has been dealt with by the courts after stripping off in a Cairns car park.

A PORT DOUGLAS hairdresser who moved to the Far North to escape the wrong crowd in Brisbane has been dealt with by the courts after stripping off and performing a lewd act at an Edge Hill car park.

Anthony Michael Fleming, 44, pleaded guilty to performing an indecent act in a public place without a lawful excuse in Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police prosecutor Christina Fresta told the court that, on July 12, Fleming parked his vehicle at the Edge Hill car park, took a camp chair out and wandered around in various states of undress.

Anthony Michael Fleming pleaded guilty in the Cairns Magistrates Court to an indecent public act at in Edge Hill earlier this year.

“He engaged in rubbing … under his T-shirt,” she said.

“He seemed startled when he saw police, he told police that he had been touching himself. He further stated that there may be drugs in the vehicle.”

Fleming also pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable care when disposing of syringes. Defence lawyer Sharon Jardine told the court her client, who had been a hairdresser at a Far North salon for the past 18 months, met with an associate in Cairns who offered meth which was taken intravenously.

Anthony Fleming pleaded was fined $1300 in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.

“He moved up here specifically for the purpose of escaping a certain lifestyle,” she said.

In sentencing Fleming, Magistrate Bevan Hughes remarked there was no prior record of the defendant engaging in indecent acts.

“I consider it to be completely out of character,” he said.

“Obviously that type of behaviour causes members of the public to feel very uncomfortable.”

Magistrate Hughes acknowledged the incident has caused Fleming “significant embarrassment” and recorded no conviction for the indecent act.

However a conviction was recorded on the safe disposal of injecting equipment charge.

Fleming was fined $1300 for both matters.

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Originally published as Port Douglas hairdresser in court for indecent act in Edge Hill car park