Mitchell Raddatz pleads guilty to two counts of indecent treatment of a child
A former Sunshine Coast retail worker has been caught masturbating on a bus following a drug “bender” in front of two teenage girls on their way to school.
Police & Courts
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A Sunshine Coast man has been sentenced for his “outrageous” masturbation on a public bus in front of two school girls following a large “bender”.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard Mitchell Jordan Raddatz, 30, was coming off a drug “bender” when he exposed two 15-year-old girls in school uniforms to his penis and pubic hair on the morning of October 23, 2023.
The court was told on Thursday both girls caught public transport from Nambour to Sunshine Plaza at Maroochydore when one of the girls spotted Raddatz holding his penis in his hands.
Acting magistrate Anna Smith said the girl, who was concerned for her friend sitting nearby the then 29-year-old, called out to her to move away from him.
Ms Smith said the second 15-year-old girl walked past Raddatz on the bus and saw him “caressing” his penis and masturbating.
The court heard the 30-year-old hopped off the bus at Duporth Ave at Maroochydore, which prompted both girls to tell the bus driver and the police were contacted.
Police obtained CCTV from the bus as well as photos taken of Raddatz by the girls when he left the bus. Officers tried to speak to Raddatz at his home twice before they went to his workplace at Sunshine Mitre 10 at Nambour.
Ms Smith said the Maroochydore man made admissions to police to being on the bus following a “bender”.
Defence lawyer Rowan King said Raddatz was struggling with his mental health in the lead up to the offence and took a cocktail of drugs the night before which included LSD, mushrooms, MDMA, ketamine and alcohol due to his poor mental health.
The court heard Raddatz woke up at Bli Bli while still affected by drugs and caught the bus home when the “outrageous” incident occurred, however the 30-year-old could not recall what happened and could not explain it.
Mr King said Raddatz lost his job due to being spoken to by police while he was at work.
The defence lawyer said it was out of character for the former shop assistant and was remorseful for what happened. Raddatz was also on a waiting list for counselling and had no history of similar offending.
Mr King said these were among other exceptional circumstances as to why his client should not serve actual jail time, which were needed otherwise the 30-year-old would be spending some time inside.
Ms Smith said the two teenage girls were “stuck” in the bus on the way to school while Raddatz was “masturbating” and stated it would’ve had an emotional impact on them.
She however accepted there were exceptional circumstances.
Raddatz pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent treatment of children under 16 and was jailed for two months, suspended immediately for 15 months. He was also sentenced to 15 months’ probation.
Convictions were recorded.
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