Graham Hession sentenced for masturbating in car in front of woman on Newtown street

A concreter has narrowly avoided jail after he was caught drunkenly masturbating in front of a complete stranger from inside his car as she walked along a laneway on her lunch break.

A repeat masturbator has been sentenced for wanking in front of a woman from inside his car as she walked along a laneway. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A concreter has narrowly avoided jail after he was caught drunkenly masturbating in front of a complete stranger from inside his car as she walked along a laneway on her lunch break.

Graham John Hession, 55, pleaded guilty to carrying out a sexual act with another person without consent and was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

Documents tendered in court state the repeat public masturbator, who was self employed as a concreter, had previously been charged on seven occasions, two of which were similar sexual offences.

The documents stated Hession drove his car along Buckland Lane in Newtown about 1pm on December 7, last year when he slowed down and pulled over next to a woman who was walking along the street on her lunch break.

The woman felt scared and walked across the road before she looked inside the car and noticed the man – who she had never met – was not wearing pants.

Hession was sentenced to carrying out a sexual act with another person without consent.

The woman saw Hession masturbating with his hand moving up and down on his penis “vigorously” as he looked at her.

The interaction lasted between six to 10 seconds, making the woman feel scared and disgusted before Hession drove away.

The woman took note of the car’s registration plate and reported the incident to police.

Police checks of the registration plate revealed Hession’s licence photo was strikingly similar to the description the woman gave of the masturbator.

Hession was arrested at his Heathcote home on December 12 before he was interviewed, telling police he was the only person who drove his car.

Hession said he was unable to recall being in Newtown that day, denied masturbating and could not provide an explanation as to why his car was captured on CCTV footage.

In court, respected defence lawyer Wayne Pasterfield said his client had made steps towards his rehabilitation.

Mr Pasterfield said Hession had been abstinent from alcohol, which he acknowledged was a “real problem” and was linked to his offending, adding his client could not remember the incident nor driving to Newtown because of his level of intoxication.

The court heard Hession was separated from his wife.

Mr Pasterfield acknowledged Hession had previous convictions for very similar offending and asked Magistrate Philip Stewart to give Hession one more chance to keep his liberty.

Mr Stewart said he was very concerned that a woman was approached in a laneway and there was a strong need for the community to be protected.

“A woman of any age has the right to walk along the street without you pulling up and masturbating in a car,” he said.

“If you come back before court for a matter like this, you will go to jail. Your conduct is disgraceful and it will not be tolerated.”

Hession was sentenced to a 12 month-intensive correction order, which is a period of imprisonment to be served in the community, where he must complete 200 hours of community service, abstain from alcohol and continue with his treatment.

He will be required to wear an electronic ankle monitor so authorities knows where he is at all times to reduce his risk of sexual reoffending.