Keanu Pat Lee Williams sentenced over indecent act in Anzac Park
A mother and her 11-year-old daughter caught a Townsville man masturbating at a picnic table in Anzac Memorial Park before he started following them.
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A mother and her 11-year-old daughter caught a Townsville man masturbating at a picnic table in Anzac Memorial Park, a court has heard.
Keanu Pat Lee Williams, 25, had “exposed his genitals” about 7pm on September 25 when he was spotted by the mum and daughter while riding their scooters.
Williams was convicted in the Townsville Magistrates Court after he pleaded guilty to single counts of indecent act in any place to which the public are permitted access, obstruct police officer, failure to appear in accordance with undertaking and two counts of committing public nuisance – one in the vicinity of licensed premises.
After catching Williams in the act the court heard the mother and daughter left and Williams followed.
Eventually he was confronted by police.
Williams was also a public nuisance on two other occasions including on September 23 – the night of the North Queensland Cowboys home NRL final.
He was seen acting aggressively in the vicinity of a licenced premises, throwing an item towards patrons and spitting in their direction, before attempting to flee when the police arrived.
Police prosecutor Erin Collis said Williams had an “extensive” 13 page criminal history that included an 18 months sentence for an indecent act.
Given Williams had served 401 days in pre-sentence custody, Ms Collis said he had “done his time” but regarded a 15 to 18 month term of imprisonment as necessary to complete his “debt to the community”.
ATSILs defence lawyer Kevin Amantea disagreed, saying his client’s 13 months behind bars was long enough.
Tendering a mental health examination report, Mr Amantea said his client had a disadvantaged upbringing and an average to below average cognitive disorder.
He assured Acting-Magistrate Scott Luxton that Williams intended to engage with mental health support services after his release.
Mr Luxton said Williams “clearly has some issues that need to be addressed” which had been exacerbated by drugs and alcohol.
He said the mother and child were “distressed to the degree that they sought assistance from a member of the public” by their experience of seeing Williams “masturbate in front of them” before he followed them for a period of time.
Allowing for 401 days served in pre-sentence custody, he released Williams immediately on parole, with convictions recorded.
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Originally published as Keanu Pat Lee Williams sentenced over indecent act in Anzac Park
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