John Albert Sheldrick guilty of exposing himself at Blackbutt school

A South Burnett grandfather has been hauled before the courts for what he did in the girls’ toilets of a local primary school.

South Burnett grandfather John Albert Sheldrick appeared before the Nanango Magistrate Court after exposing himself in the girls bathroom of a local primary school.

A South Burnett grandfather who exposed himself to the cleaner of a toilet block at the Blackbutt State Primary School has been fined $400.

John Albert Sheldrick was sentenced at Nanango Magistrate Court on Monday after he exposed himself to a female cleaner in the female students toilet block.

The 73-year-old pleaded guilty to wilful exposure and entering the premises with intent.

The court heard Sheldrick offended on October 19 at 2:30pm, shortly before students would be expected to leave classes for the day.

The pensioner committed the indecent act in an unlocked toilet cubicle with the door wide open.

Police prosecutor Barry Stevens said Sheldrick went into the girls toilets at the school amenities block, entered the third cubicle and did not close the door.

“He then proceeds to face his back towards the side wall so he’s beside the toilet bowl, instead of what’s usually done by standing in front,” Sgt Stevens said.

He then urinated “in plain view of anyone who has walked in”, he said.

“At this time a female cleaner walked in, she quickly checked there were no girls in the toilet block and then left.

“It is morally serious offending,” he said.

Solicitor Mark Werner said Sheldrick was at the school for a legitimate purpose.

Magistrate Michael Holohan said a school was a sanctuary for children.

“People from the general public can’t just enter and do what you did,” Mr Holohan said.

“I still have concerns from submissions made by the police that you weren’t standing in a traditional sense.

“It’s lucky no child saw but it’s unfortunate that someone had to, I don’t want to reduce the seriousness of that,” he said.

Sheldrick was convicted and fined $400, no convictions were recorded.