Richard Hollis: Capalaba pervert in court for flashing 5yo girl

A Redlands man aged in his fifties has a history of sexual offending dating back 30 years, a court has heard.

A Redlands man with a history of exposing his genitalia in public and to underage girls has been sentenced for flashing a girl aged five or six.

Capalaba man Richard Henry Hollis, 50, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court on Wednesday to one count of indecent treatment of a child under the age of 12 by way of exposure.

The court heard the offence occurred sometime between July 2011 and May 2013, with the girl’s young age at the time of the offence militating against a more specific date.

The offence involved Hollis, a FIFO worker at the Bravus (formerly Adani) coalmine in the Galilee Basin, flashing his penis at the young girl but did not involve any touching of her or himself.

Capalaba pervert Richard Henry Hollis, 50. Picture: Facebook

The offending was first reported by the young girl in May 2013, but it was not until 2017, when she was aged 11, that a complaint was made to police.

Hollis was interviewed in August 2018 and charged in January 2019.

Crown prosecutor Julie Aylward told the court Hollis clearly needed support in the community, especially in light of the fact he drunk four to six cans of beer per day and occasionally went on bourbon binges when stressed.

The court heard Hollis had two relevant offences on his criminal history.

In May 1991, he was sentenced for behaving indecently by flashing his genitalia to a schoolgirl, fined and placed on a good-behaviour bond.

In November 1994, he was sentenced for wilful exposure after an off-duty cop witnessed a stark-naked Hollis inexplicably going for a jog through a nature reserve at 6am.

For this offending he was placed on 18 months’ probation.

No convictions were recorded on either occasion.

Defence counsel Robert Gordon told the court his client has “significant underlying mental health issues” and had been diagnosed with “exhibitionist disorder”.

He said Hollis was educated to Year 10 in the Everton Park area and had worked a variety of labouring jobs throughout his life.

Chief Judge Brian Devereux SC sentenced Hollis to two years’ probation.

No conviction was recorded.