Mt Martha flasher: call for CCTV to protect beach goers
A worried dad is warning women to be on the alert for a sex pest lurking behind beach boxes on the Mornington Peninsula. His call for caution has sparked a flood of similar complaints.
South East
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A flasher is terrifying young girls at a family friendly beach on the Mornington Peninsula, prompting a call for more CCTV.
Peter Barnet said a man had exposed himself to both his daughters, aged 12 and 15, on separate occasions at Mount Martha Beach South this summer.
“It happened to my youngest daughter and her friends in December and again to my older daughter and her friends last weekend,” Mr Barnet said.
“We think it was the same man. He was hanging around the back of the beach boxes and exposed himself when they walked past.”
Mr Barnet reported both incidents to police and posted a warning on social media.
The Facebook post attracted a flood of comments from people sharing similar experiences.
One woman said indecent behaviour had been an issue in the area for at least 12 months and said she had seen a man touching himself behind the south beach bathing boxes, near the walking path that leads up to the White House, about a year ago.
“The man was in his forties, poorly dressed and overweight. Reported it to police and they encouraged witnesses to take photos of him, if safe to do so.”
Mt Barnet told the Leader he was considering a petition to push for more CCTV at the foreshore.
“I think the council needs to look at safety in the area and cameras would be a great deterrent,” he said.
Mornington Peninsula mayor Sam Hearn said he wasn’t aware of a flasher operating at Mt Martha Beach South this summer but if it was an ongoing issue the council would investigate ways to make the area safer including extra patrols by rangers and installing CCTV.
“We’ve done that at other beaches within the region where there have been ongoing concerns about inappropriate behaviour,” Cr Hearn said.
In 2018 the council assigned extra ranger patrols and put in more signs at Moondah Beach in Mt Eliza after reports of lewd behaviour.
The action was in response to complaints from beach goers about nudists straying from the “clothing optional” next door.
Cr Hearn said there had been no more complaints since those changes were made.
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Mornington police confirmed the Mt Martha Beach South incidents were being investigated.
Late last year a 48 year old Mt Martha man was arrested and charged with six offences including sexual exposure and sexual activity in the presence of a child under the age of 16.
The arrest followed a series of indecent exposures at Balcombe Estuary Reserve, Mt Martha.
The man was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 3, 2020.