Tatenda Kelvin Remigio Kopera fronts Caloundra Magistrates Court on wilful exposure, going armed charges

A Sunshine Coast man armed himself with a tool from his car and then exposed his penis during a neighbourhood argument.

A man who armed himself with a tool in front of neighbours before showing them his penis during an argument was sentenced to 18 months’ probation in Caloundra Magistrates Court.

Tatenda Kelvin Remigio Kopera, 24, of Kings Beach was in Landsborough on January 24, 2022, when neighbours called the police following an argument between the defendant and a woman, in which the defendant struck her and caused a swollen lip.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said neighbours intervened and when they approached, the defendant responded by getting a tool out of his car and then he exposed his penis.

Among other charges, Kopera pleaded guilty on July 22, 2022 to one count of going armed so as to cause fear, one count of wilful exposure and one count of common assault.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Stu Lydford said a wholly suspended term of imprisonment was in range for the offending.

Barrister Mark Dixon said the wilful exposure came about during an exchange of insults about penis size.

“He recognises that it was completely inappropriate,” Mr Dixon said.

He said Kopera had no history of violence.

The barrister said the defendant runs cables for the NBN and that he had tools in his car and did not enter the incident with any intention of producing one as a weapon.

He said the defendant moved to Australia from Zimbabwe when he was about 10, with his parents, and became an Australian citizen at about 14 years old.

The barrister said 18 months’ probation through to a wholly suspended jail term was in range for the offending.

Magistrate Catherine Benson said a sentence must prevent the defendant from re-offending.

“It must also send a very clear message to other people that this sort of behaviour won’t be tolerated,” she said.

She said Kopera grabbing a tool and then exposing himself effectively happened in public after neighbours approached.

The magistrate sentenced the defendant to 18 months’ probation and convictions were recorded.