Frankston Magistrates’ Court: William Nicholls “felt sick” about masturbating in Rye
A former Rye man has blamed his “out of control” drinking for strutting around a backyard, performing sex acts for people to see.
South East
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A man who was busted walking around a backyard naked while performing a sex act, says he “felt sick” when he thought about his behaviour, a court has heard.
William Nicholls, 66, appeared in the Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to two charges of performing a sexual act directed at another person.
The father of two was spotted multiple times between 2016 and 2021 walking around a Rye home naked.
On April 10, 2020 Nicholls was spotted by a person walking around a backyard wearing an open robe wearing nothing underneath.
The neighbour reported Nicholls was “flicking his penis” as he walked back and forth
The court heard Nicholls went inside and looked through a window , still naked under his open robe.
On March 7, 2021 a person spotted Nicholls, who now lives in Devon Meadows, masturbating.
When police questioned Nicholls about the offending he told them he hadn’t masturbated at the front door but he sometimes did it “in the rear of the backyard”.
Nicholls also told police he “felt sick” when he thought about his offending.
Nicholls was fined more than seven years ago for similar offending.
Defence submitted Nicholls’ life had been consumed by an alcohol addiction and at the time of offending his drinking was “out of control”.
“He should’ve known someone would see, however, the offending lacked a predatory aspect,” Nicholls’ defence said.
The farm worker has since engaged with mental health support to better understand his offending and addiction.
Magistrate Charles Tan said he would have Nicholls assessed for a community corrections order.
He will return to court later this week for sentencing.
