‘Disgusting’: Man performs alleged sick act in front of 15yo

A mother has been left “disgusted” after her 15-year-old daughter sent her a photo of a man during her bus ride to school.

A man has been charged after he allegedly masturbated in front of a 15-year-old schoolgirl on a public bus, leaving the teenager and her mother feeling “sick”.

The teenager was travelling to school on the Gold Coast just after 9am on Wednesday when she noticed a man sat on the back seat of the bus allegedly masturbating.

The girl quickly took a photo of the man and sent it to her mother.

“She feels sick about it,” the mother told The Gold Coast Bulletin.

“As a mother, I feel absolutely disgusted and appalled by what (allegedly) happened to my daughter. It’s difficult to put into words – it’s a mix of anger, shock, and deep concern.”

The incident was later reported to police and the bus company.

The woman said she was concerned for the safety of her daughter and other passengers, and hopes authorities “can locate this man quickly”.

A man has been charged over the alleged incident. Picture: Gold Coast Bulletin

Kinetic, the country’s largest bus operator, said the bus driver was unaware of the alleged incident as it wasn’t reported at the time.

“While we are unaware of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident or the individual, the behaviour reported and depicted is unacceptable and does not align with the standards of safety, comfort, and respect that we expect on our buses,” Kinetic executive general manager Martin Hall told the publication.

Queensland Police said detectives from the Gold Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit have charged a 30-year-old man with one count of committing an indecent act in a public place.

“Investigators will allege the man inappropriately touched himself in front of a 15-year-old girl while travelling on public transport,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

He will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on April 16.

News.com.au has contacted Kinetic for comment.

Originally published as ‘Disgusting’: Man performs alleged sick act in front of 15yo