Arthur Tsamoudakis family cites drug use and mental health issues after his latest sex offence

A former Mildura taxi driver, already listed on the sex offenders register, performed a sex act shocking a father and daughter who were on their way to get dinner.

Arthur Tsamoudakis pleaded guilty to one count of direct sexual activity directed at another person. Picture: Generic

A Mildura sex pestn performed a sex act facing the window in his bathroom with the lights on in full view of neighbours, a court has heard.

Arthur Tsamoudakis fronted Mildura Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to one charge of direct sexual activity directed at another person.

The court heard that on July 2, Tsamoudakis, 49, was naked and masturbating in his bathroom at 7.30pm in full view of the street.

A father and daughter, who were driving past on their way to get dinner, when the daughter spotted Tsamoudakis from the car.

“Oh my God, look at that,” the daughter said to her father as they drove past.

The duo called the police and made a report. Police subsequently went to Tsamoudakis’ address and arrested him.

Tsamoudakis’ brother appeared in the courtroom in support and told Magistrate Patrick Southey that his brother’s mental health issues had gotten the better of him, and his drug use had only exacerbated his offending.

Tsamoudakis stunned even his own lawyer when he declared he wasn’t coming back to Mildura. Picture: Mark Stewart

“If he got off the drugs, that would be a good start,” he told the court

“When he was on his medication, he was doing great. He was a taxi driver, he had his security licence, he was doing well.”

Tsamoudakis looked unsettled as he appeared on the video link from remand in Melbourne. He remonstrated with his arms several times during proceedings and failed to directly answer simple questions put to him by Mr Southey.

When Mr Southey asked him if he understood he had to report to corrections as a condition of his release he initially replied he wasn’t coming back, and was planning to stay in Melbourne.

Eventually, he agreed to report to Mildura Corrections next week, before moving to Melbourne permanently.

Mr Southey made a point to tell Tsamoudakis that if he hadn’t pleaded guilty, he would have received a one month prison sentence.

“I can’t lock you up for things you might do in the future,” Mr Southey said.

Tsamoudakis was sentenced to eight days in prison, which was reckoned as time served. He was also found guilty of breaching a previous community corrections order (CCO), and had a new two-year CCO given to him.