Kirsten Leonard McLennan, 33, sentenced for public masturbation in female campground showers

A Cairns court has heard how a young girl fled her cape campground shower cubicle after she heard “heavy male breathing” before a 33-year-old man was later caught naked on the floor of the same bathroom masturbating.

Kirsten Leonard McLennan was sentenced to 12 months probation after he was caught masturbating by a women’s campground bathroom. Picture: Facebook

A young girl fled her cape campground shower cubicle after she heard “heavy, male breathing” before a former kickboxer was later caught naked on the floor of the same shower block masturbating.

Former tree lopper Kirsten Leonard McLennan, 33, of Yarrabah, pleaded guilty to one count of committing an indecent act and one count of observations in breach of privacy in Cairns Magistrates Court recently.

Police prosecutor Angela Teaken told the court on June 29 last year, the child was with her family at the Cullen Point camping ground in Mapoon and had been there for five nights.

“The defendant was also camping at the location adjacent to the shower and toilet facility,” she said.

Ms Teaken said at 7am the child went to the women’s amenities where she undressed and began showering.

“She heard heavy, male breathing from outside the shower door,” she said.

“She stopped showering, wrapped herself in a towel and exited the shower block.

“As she walked back to her campsite she observed the defendant sitting on the concrete floor of the tower block outside of her cubicle fully clothed.”

Ms Teaken said that another witness observed a male walking around the rear of the toilet block entering the rear of the women’s shower block.

Kirsten Leonard McLennan was sentenced to 12 months’ probation after he was caught masturbating by a women’s campground bathroom. Picture: Facebook

“He poked his head in and told the defendant to get out,” she said.

A short time later witnesses saw Mclennan’s shoes underneath the shower block walls and when they entered the block they observed him laying on the ground masturbating in the women’s shower block.

Ms Teaken submitted for a sentence of a two-year period on probation.

The defendant’s counsel said the facts of the charges were accepted and told the court his client was born profoundly deaf and had no history of “like offending”.

He said he was the only deaf person in his family and community circle, leaving him isolated.

“The social isolation has continued into his adulthood,” he said.

He told the court, in relation to the breach of privacy charge, “there was no indication he had seen the victim child naked” and there was no indication she had seen anything “untoward”, “other than a man in the women's bathroom”.

This was accepted by Magistrate Mandy Bowen, who agreed he was outside of the shower and the shower was closed.

McLennan’s lawyer said he was in a relationship and now had a one-year-old son.

Magistrate Bowen sentenced the man to 12 months’ probation, with a conviction recorded.

Originally published as Kirsten Leonard McLennan, 33, sentenced for public masturbation in female campground showers