Walter Gavin James sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for masturbating outside people’s homes

A night prowler stood outside people’s homes masturbating while using his other hand to try and open their doors. DETAILS.

A man claimed he was looking for food and a place to sleep the night he stood naked outside several different women’s homes and masturbated.

Walter Gavin James appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday after he tried to gain entry into people’s homes while standing on stranger’s doorways with his genitalia out.

Police prosecutor Sam Stewart said over four hours during the night of March 25, several people reported to police a man in red shoes, no shirt and a satchel, walking around their properties with his penis exposed.

Home security cameras installed at a property in Thuringowa Central caught the man in the middle of the act.

“(James) is captured on CCTV footage … he’s seen exposing his genitalia and stroking his penis,” he said.

“(James) could further be seen attempting to open the door while doing the act at the front door of the property.”

Just after midnight that night, he gained access to the backyard of another woman’s property while completely naked.

Mr Stewart said he began knocking on the back door and trying to get into the house.

Less than an hour later, police were again called to a Kirwan home and found the 32-year-old sitting in a chair at the property.

This CCTV footage shows James entering a Hinchinbrook Drive yard at 9.40pm. Picture: Facebook

James’ defence lawyer, Madeleine Smith said he had only been released on parole four days earlier, and had consumed drugs and alcohol before he took off through the streets.

She also provided a print out of a Townsville Bulletin article from March this year which named and shamed him for his acts and featured the CCTV footage of him outside people’s homes.

“The matter being widely publicised is a source of considerable embarrassment but it also exacerbates the shame that Mr James feels,” she said.

Magistrate Cathy McLennan said his attempts to repeatedly gain entry into homes was extremely concerning.

“You continued to stand at the front door of the dwelling stroking your penis for some time and concerningly you could be seen knocking on the door while doing the act with the victim observing you at the front door,” she said.

A letter of remorse which was handed up by James’ lawyer earlier stated he had been struggling with homelessness at the time and went into people’s homes looking for food and a place to sleep.

Magistrate McLennan said this was inconsistent with what CCTV footage showed and didn’t demonstrate much insight into his serious offences.

James pleaded guilty to three charges of indecent act in any place with intent to insult or offend any person and three charges of trespassing.

He was sentenced to 9 months jail with parole eligibility set immediately.

His 112 days spent in pre-sentence custody was decalared as time served.

Originally published as Walter Gavin James sentenced in Townsville Magistrates Court for masturbating outside people’s homes