Alleged ‘serial masturbator’ Jason McCracken handcuffed in Darwin Court

An alleged public masturbator was locked in handcuffs to minimise the risk of him whipping it out before the judge.

AN ALLEGED public masturbator was locked in handcuffs in the Darwin court to minimise the risk of him whipping it out before the judge.

Jason Paul McCracken appeared at Darwin Local Court facing charges of behaving in an indecent manner in a public place and failing to comply with reporting conditions.

The 39-year-old’s hands were still in cuffs as he appeared before the court via a prison video link on Thursday.

Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris asked why he was still restrained during his court video link.

“He’s got handcuffs on which is a bit unusual,” Ms Morris said.

“Is there a concern that he’ll do (in court) what he’s been charged with?”

McCracken’s defence Erin Morton said it was not a “proven” risk, but did not raise objections to her client’s restraints. The court heard McCracken was one of three alleged “serial masturbators” on the court list that day, with police alleging McCracken acted inappropriately in Darwin’s Smith St Mall on Saturday July 2.

Ms Morton said her client was “quite unwell” and had been failed by the system meant to protect and care for him.

Ms Morton said McCracken, who has an acquired brain injury, was under a public guardianship order which had “fallen by the wayside”.

“It didn’t stop, it still exists,” Ms Morton said. “All I know is that he was effectively released from custody not that long ago and it doesn’t seem like there was a support plan in place.”

Ms Morton said the cognitively impaired man was homeless without any clear support at the time of the alleged offence.

She said while the public guardianship order lasted until 2024, it appeared that McCracken’s appointed guardian “perhaps is no longer working for that organisation”.

Ms Morton said she would be making an application to the NDIS to provide additional support. She asked for a medical assessment for her client, who also suffered from delusions.

Ms Morris said the volume of mental health assessment requests from the court meant that the team was “very busy” with a month-long wait time.

Ms Morton successfully applied for bail, saying the 39-year-old had been found suitable for residential rehabilitation. McCracken will return to Darwin Local Court on August 25.

Ms Morton said the case was likely to resolve to a plea after a few “minor” changes to the agreed facts.