Wynnum West father masturbates while speaking to two women exercising at Murrumba Downs park

A 20-year-old roofer and father of a one-year-old has agreed to write his victims apology letters after approaching two women, one 62 the other 70, at secluded sections of a park.

A 20-year-old roofer and father of a one-year-old has agreed to write his victims apology letters after approaching two women, one 62 the other 70, at secluded sections of a park masturbating in front of them during two disturbing early morning incidents.

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Appearing with the support of family at the Cleveland Magistrates Court on Friday Mitchell James Clark pleaded guilty to two counts of committing indecent acts in any place to which the public are permitted access.

The court heard Wynnum West man Clark was observed standing with his one hand down his pants in a secluded part of Acacia Park in Murrumba Downs at 7.30am on May 12 by a 62-year-old woman out for a walk.

The court was told the defendant said “good morning” to the woman while looking at her, moaning and rubbing his penis.

On May 28 Clark, the court heard, responded “Why? Why?” when he was told by a 70-year-old woman “don’t be stupid … leave” as he walked towards her with exposed penis in hand.

The incident occurred at the same park, between 6.15 – 6.30am, again at a densely planted and secluded location.

In both incidents the shocked women reported to police, who arrested Clark on July 9.

A police prosecutor said Clark had been convicted of similar behaviour on four occasions in 2017, when he was 17 and at that time still considered an adult under the law.

The prosecutor said the community had to be protected from this type of behaviour and ought to be able to enjoy public spaces in peace.

Defence solicitor Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown said his client had an excellent work history as a roofer and was considered a valuable member of a team.

Mr Ygoa-McKeown said Clark’s behaviour was triggered by periods of high stress for which he was currently seeing a lifestyle coach to deal with addiction.

The court was further told the defendant had a “complex childhood”, was primarily raised by his mother and had seen a psychologist since 2017.

However, Magistrate Deborah Vasta recommended the man seek specialist psychiatric treatment for what she described as a common paraphilia, or sexual deviation.

The magistrate told the court of the 400-plus recognised paraphilia – some of which include arousal at popping balloons and having sex with the dead (necrophilia) – wilful exposure was in the top two most common “conditions which must be managed”.

“It is not illegal to have these fantasies but it is to act on them,” magistrate Vasta said.

The court was told there was a real risk of Clark’s victims developing PTSD from the frightening incidents and that a written explanation, delivered by police, might go some way to assuage their fears.

Clark, who had a history of offending while on probation, was sentenced to three years’ probation with a conviction recorded.