Sunshine Coast Council worker Jake Deans pleads guilty to indecent act in public place
A council employee has been caught with his pants down while committing a disturbing act inside his car.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Sunshine Coast Council worker has escaped a conviction after he was caught masturbating in public by a shocked female bystander.
Jake Deans’ vehicle door was slightly ajar when a woman walked past his vehicle and spotted the 31-year-old indecently touching himself on Buderim Ave at Alexandra Headland about 8.30am on May 4.
Magistrate Raelene Ellis read the statement of facts to Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where police claim after the Bli Bli man was discovered, he exited his car and stood up while continuing to touch himself in front of the woman while about a metre away.
Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said the woman saw Deans’ pants and underwear around his ankles as he continued to touch himself.
She fled and reported the matter to police.
Sergeant Pyke said in a victim impact statement tendered to the court, the woman spoke of feeling shocked and unsettled after finding Deans in the disturbing state.
She said the incident left the woman feeling vulnerable and affected how she views public spaces.
The police prosecutor said women deserve to feel safe going for a walk in the community and residents were concerned at how this reflected systemic problems of how men perceive and treat women.
Defence solicitor Rose Killip said the Bli Bli man did not need to be placed on a probation order as Deans was already seeking treatment with a psychologist.
Ms Killip said this was centred around understanding the factors which contributed to the incident. She said he was remorseful and had no criminal history, with a reference speaking to Deans’ being a “good person with strong values”.
Ms Ellis said the 31-year-old conducted himself in a public place where women should feel safe but agreed there were good prospects of Deans being rehabilitated and opted not to record a conviction. She instead fined him $2000.
Serial thief flees with lucky punter’s pokies winnings
A sticky fingered thief who used a fake bank statement to try and defraud businesses out of their hard earned cash has had the law catch up to him.
Woman’s bungled effort to return stolen iPads backfires
A woman convicted of stealing iPads from a Sunshine Coast charity, who was further charged with trespass when she tried to return them, has had her appeal thrown out in court.