Woolooga man jailed for masturbating in public

A WOOLOOGA man will spend the next month in prison after pleading guilty to his third charge of committing an indecent act in public.

A WOOLOOGA man will spend the next month in prison after pleading guilty to his third charge of committing an indecent act in public.

Gympie Magistrates Court yesterday heard how 27-year-old Gary David Austin masturbated in a public toilet block at Cooktown.

The court heard the act was in view of the public and the toilet block was located next to a children's playground and a local farmers market.

The defence told the court Austin experienced impulses to masturbate in public but said he had grown out of it since the incident.

Magistrate Maxine Baldwin stressed Austin needed to address the "unfortunate" problem.

He was sentenced to three months prison, suspended for two years after serving one month.

Three of the days in his month-long jail time were declared as served after he was arrested on Saturday.

The court heard police had attended Austin's home to arrest him, but he had run, hidden and assaulted police in the process, leading to a further two charges to face in court yesterday.

The court heard he had a fear of police.

Austin pleaded guilty to one charge of obstructing police and another of assaulting police and was sentenced to one month prison for each of the offences and 12 months probation for the assault.