Greenacre: Luke Cross convicted after masturbating in front of park, primary school

A man who was caught staring at students while masturbating outside a southwest Sydney primary school admitted to police “some girls made him horny”, a court had heard.

Luke Cross was sentenced at Bankstown Local Court.

A man who was caught staring at students while masturbating outside a southwest Sydney primary school admitted to police “some girls made him horny”, a court has heard.

Luke Cross, 37, appeared at Bankstown Local Court via audio visual link on Thursday and pleaded guilty to carrying out a sexual act with another without consent and two counts of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place after he was caught masturbating twice in Greenacre.

Facts state Cross had his “hand under his pants and was holding his penis” while he watched parents and children playing at Northcote Park on January 24.

“Cross was also bent over a couple of times and put his hands down the rear of his pants around his bottom,” facts state.

St John Vianney Catholic Primary School in Greenacre. Picture: Supplied.

“This occurred for about five to six minutes … he walked towards the playground and went behind some trees.”

Cross told police he “had a scab he was picking” when officers arrested him 45 minutes later before taking him to Bankstown Police Station.

In facts tendered to court, police said the nature of “Cross’s offending is dramatically increasing each time with the likelihood to continue” after he was arrested a month later for masturbating outside the gates of St John Vianney Catholic Primary School.

Facts state an after-school carer had seven students under the age of 12 in their care when they noticed Cross screaming 15m from the school fence.

Cross walked to the school gates and stared at the carer, who was in the company of the students and “put his right hand inside his pants and took hold of his penis”.

Northcote Park in Greenacre. Picture: Google Maps.

“Cross then began masturbating while looking in the direction of the victim and children, the victim at this time had her back turned to Cross as she was caring for the children,” the facts state.

“About five minutes after Cross approached the fence, the victim turned around and observed Cross with his right hand to be masturbating.”

Cross continued to masturbate as the victim yelled out to their colleagues to take the children inside.

He was arrested six days later in a park on Waterloo Rd and was taken to Bankstown police station where he “made full admissions to the offence stating he was masturbating because some girls had made him horny.”

Luke Cross was sentenced at Bankstown Local Court.

Cross’s lawyer said his client had “no explanation for this offending” and “owns up to his offending and is apologetic” for his actions.

Magistrate Michael Barko said the community would find Cross’s behaviour “abhorrent” and his actions would “not be tolerated or accepted”.

“It’s not the first case I’ve had today where an older man can’t keep their hands out of their pants … it’s quite disturbing,” Mr Barko said.

“These are obviously very public offences committed in the presence, not in the sight of kids.”

Cross was convicted and sentenced to two months imprisonment.

He was also charged with failing to appear in accordance with bail acknowledgment and recorded no penalty.