North Coast landscaper Matthew Ebenezer Bransgrove pleads guilty to masturbating naked outside Ballina family home

A North Coast landscaper with a history of exposing himself in public was caught naked and masturbating while looking into the children’s playroom of a family home. Here’s what we know.

Bransgrove has a history of exposing himself in public and behaving in an offensive manner, Ballina Local Court was told. File image.

A North Coast landscaper with a history of obscene behaviour was caught naked and masturbating while looking into a children’s playroom through a sliding door, a court heard.

Matthew Ebenezer Bransgrove pleaded guilty at Ballina Local Court on Thursday over audio video link from custody to unlawful entry on enclosed lands and peep or pry.

The 35-year-old opened the back gate of a West Ballina home and entered a courtyard about 4.30am on July 27.

Bransgrove faced the court over audio visual link. He has been serving time behind bars on remand.

“He was not wearing any clothes and carrying a blue T-shirt to cover his genitals,” police state in court documents.

“After pulling his T-shirt to the side and exposing his penis, Bransgrove masturbated for some time while looking into the glass sliding door leading to a children’s playroom.”

Most of the family living at the home were not there at the time, except for one relative.

She was woken up by notifications of movement on a home security system.

Bransgrove’s offending was reported to police, who state: “This event has caused the victim and his family to feel extreme anxiousness and mental anguish.”

Police spoke to Bransgrove who admitted the offending.

Bransgrove’s lawyer told the court he works as a landscaper in the Ballina area. File image.

“Bransgrove has four previous convictions for the offence of wilful and obscene exposure in a public place,” the documents state.

“He also has five previous convictions for the offence of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.”

Defence lawyer Rebecca Witchard told the court Bransgrove works as a landscaper in the Ballina area.

Magistrate Kathy Crittenden adjourned the case to December 14 for sentencing.