Deane Roach charged over ANU Club Lime, Stromlo Leisure Centre nudity
A number of public pool patrons were allegedly exposed to a 43-year-old man accused of repeatedly swimming naked at a number of public swim centres around Canberra.
Canberra Star
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A string of public pool patrons and lifeguards allegedly fell victim to a serial flasher, who is accused of repeatedly exposing himself to victims as young as 10.
Deane Richard Roach, 43, of Holt, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday where Magistrate James Stewart sent him for a mental health assessment, saying the “unusual allegations” had a “real flavour of mental illness”.
The allegations against Roach span months, and begin in June, when police say he got into the ANU Club Lime pool naked, in the same lane as a 17-year-old lap swimmer.
As the teenage girl neared Roach did a tumble turn, it is alleged she saw him, stark naked, in a “proud stance” at the end of the lane.
“Seeing this made her feel sick like she could vomit,” police allege in a statement of facts tendered in court on Tuesday.
When confronted by a lifeguard, Roach allegedly said “I didn’t realise I had to wear clothes”.
It is further alleged Roach exposed himself while changing beside the Aqua Harmony hydrotherapy pool in Kambah.
“At this time, (Roach) made no attempts to cover himself,” police allege.
Roach is accused of defecating in the Aqua Harmony pool in July, on the same day he allegedly exposed himself for a second time there, by not closing a changing room door.
The pool had to be closed for two days for decontamination after staff discovered a brown substance near where he had been swimming, and noticing he had a brown stain on his swimmers.
It is alleged Roach stalked an Arthritis ACT staff member after she warned Roach his hydrotherapy membership would be cancelled if he continued to expose himself at the pool or defecate in it.
It is further alleged in September, Roach was seen towelling himself off, while naked, outside the changing rooms at the Stromlo Leisure Centre pool, before trying to walk into the women’s changing room.
Four days later, two 10-year-old siblings allege they saw O’Brien touching his genitals underwater while he loitered in the centre’s splash pool.
A lifeguard later saw Roach “staring at her, making weird faces and playing with his crotch area” while naked in the pool the court heard.
It is alleged a parent approached the pool manager and said “what’s with the paedo in the pool, he was looking at my kids”, according to court documents.
When finally confronted and told he was banned from the pool for a year, it is alleged Roach asked if it was because of his “skimpy” underwear.
The pool manager said Roach’s underwear was see through, and Roach allegedly said words to the effect of “I guess the kiddies wouldn’t like that”.
In a summary of Roach’s interview with police on Monday, also tendered in court, it is alleged Roach admitted to being naked in the ANU pool, but that he had “no other option” because his car had been stolen, along with all of his swimmers.
Roach will return to court after his mental health assessment.
He did not enter pleas on Tuesday.
