Callum Chey Matthews behind bars for indecent acts, driving unlicensed

A meth user, caught committing unspeakable acts near a Gympie primary school and children’s playground, claimed he was trying to feel ‘even more euphoric’.

Chey Callum Matthews, 37, will spend the next two months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent acts in public, both while children were nearby. Photo: Facebook.

A 37-year-old East Deep Creek man, who exposed himself in public twice while children were nearby, will spend the next two months behind bars.

Chey Callum Matthews appeared in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday via videolink from Maryborough Correctional Centre, where he pleaded guilty to two indecent act charges, and one charge of driving unlicensed.

The police prosecutor told the court police were called to Lawrence St in Gympie on July 14, where a witness said she saw Matthews drop his pants and expose himself after they locked eyes.

A witness saw Matthews “drop his pants” after locking eyes with her on Lawrence St near Gympie Central State School around the time kids were being dropped off.

The following day police were called to a Chatsworth park rest area after witnesses parked across from Matthews saw him pleasuring himself in a car with the driver-side door open.

“They could both see him with his hand around his penis masturbating while looking at them,” the prosecutor said.

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The witnesses filmed the lewd act as evidence, before one of them approached him and said “put your c*** back in your pants and f*** off”.

Matthews fled and drove north the Bruce Hwy, where he was caught by police and found without a licence.

The police prosecutor said Matthews was parked in front of a playground with children in it, and witnesses saw him adjust and stare into his rearview mirror while pleasuring himself.

He was arrested the following day and taken into custody.

Witnesses saw Matthews (pictured) readjust and stare into his rearview mirror while he pleasured himself in his car at a Chatsworth rest area in July. Photo: Facebook.

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Defence lawyer Chris Anderson said his client’s offending stemmed from the use of meth and the lewd acts were a result of an “urge to feel even more euphoric”.

Mr Anderson said Matthews “urge” was not linked to children, and the acts were an “inwardly focused exercise”.

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Magistrate Chris Callaghan did not agree.

Matthews was seen with his head in his hands and wiping away tears as his sentence was handed down.

He was sentenced to 12 months behind bars, with his time in pre-sentence custody declared as time served.

He will be released on parole on October 15, with nine months parole.

A conviction was recorded.

The Gympie Times would like to clarify the incident on July 14 on Lawrence St did not occur at Gympie Central State School or involve any of its students.