Steven Paul Barney pleads guilty to four charges of indecently exposing his genitalia to three women at Suncare Village, and to girl aged seven

A man with criminal convictions dating back three decades has targeted the elderly and a young girl in his latest episode of offending.

Serial flasher Steven Paul Barney has been committing offences for three decades. Picture: NRM

CONVICTED flasher Steven Barney has been at it again – this time in an Ipswich retirement village.

The notorious penis flasher with multiple convictions across Australia, went before Ipswich District Court on Friday for sentence on four charges involving different residents in a Brassall aged care complex, and a little girl who was visiting a relative.

Despite the penalties imposed over more than 30 years of indecent offending, the court was told Barney had failed to get a grip on his problem.

Appearing before the court by phone link from Princess Alexandra Hospital, where he is being treated following a fall, Steven Paul Barney, 64, pleaded guilty to wilfully doing three indecent acts with intent to insult or offend at Brassall in June 2020; and one count of indecently treating a child under 16 by unlawfully exposing a child aged under 12 to an indecent act on June 27.

“I plead guilty”, Barney said across the phone which was on speaker to the courtroom as each charge was read to him.

Crown prosecutor Victoria Adams said Barney was now aged 64 and committed the offences by exposing his genitalia while a resident at Suncare Village for retirement living in Brassall.

Ms Adams said three different female adults and a female child were victims of his offending that occurred soon after he had moved into the facility.

The adult victims were aged 55, 74 and 52, while the girl was aged only seven.

Ms Adams said Barney had convictions in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and NSW for similar offending.

Serial flasher Steven Paul Barney. Picture: NRM

She said Barney had since spent more than 400 days in custody and the Crown sought a jail order of 12 to 18 months.

Defence counsel Cecelia Bernardin said Barney was born in Cloncurry and suffered at the hands of a physically abusive father.

He began working as a cattle drover at the age of 13.

He was a father of three adult children who he has no contact with.

Last year he was able to gain a place at the Suncare village.

In January this year he suffered a bad fall and it was not known when he would be well enough to release from hospital.

Ms Bernardin said it was conceded the offences were serious given his relevant history.

Barney was also subject to being declared a dangerous prisoner.

Judge Alexander Horneman-Wren SC said the offences occurred over 12 days when he exposed his genitalia after moving into the Brassall facility only a month earlier.

His fourth victim had been a seven-year-old girl, who was at Suncare visiting her aunt.

“You have a history exposing yourself in two states and one territory spanning 30 years,” Judge Horneman-Wren said.

“Yeah”, Barney was heard to say.

“It would seem prison has not been a deterrent in the past,” Judge Horneman-Wren said.

“Prospects for your rehabilitation are not good.

“You have been flashing yourself for over 30 years.

“Not sure if this is medically induced but there is need to protect the community from you.”

Barney was convicted and sentenced to 404 days in jail, equivalent to the time he has already served.

“Thank you,” Barney said.

In previous reports about Barney’s offending it was revealed that he had been convicted of exposing himself to more than 20 children in Queensland, NSW and Northern Territory over 30 years.

In 2016 he was jailed after exposing himself to children on a Brisbane train.    

Originally published as Steven Paul Barney pleads guilty to four charges of indecently exposing his genitalia to three women at Suncare Village, and to girl aged seven