John Charles Noel Tonkin faces Noosa court on wilful exposure charge

A bookstore worker sounded the alarm after a man was spying on her and following her through a Sunshine Coast hinterland shop while pleasuring himself, landing him in court.

John Charles Noel Tonkin outside the Noosa Courthouse on October 18, 2022.

A literary lover has been fined after being busted by a shop worker masturbating in a bookstore in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

John Charles Noel Tonkin, 70, of Cooloolabin faced Noosa Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 18, after he was sprung pleasuring himself in front of a Eumundi bookstore worker before following her around on future visits.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Phillip Stephens said the worker was in the store when she noticed Tonkin and saw his hand shaking behind a bookshelf on June 8.

The court was told the worker thought nothing of it, at first, and then realised Tonkin was watching her and masturbating.

Sergeant Stephens said she walked out of the room and as she looked back she saw Tonkin with his hands on his waist and his erect penis fully exposed to her.

Tonkin pleaded guilty to wilful exposure.

John Charles Noel Tonkin outside the Noosa Courthouse on October 18, 2022.

The police prosecutor said the worker told the store manager.

The court was told the manager went to investigate and saw the 70-year-old was the only one in the area and it appeared he was browsing the books.

“The store manager returned from the area and informed her colleague the person was a regular customer named John and she was reluctant to report the matter to police without CCTV evidence,” he said.

The court was told Tonkin continued to regularly visit the store on Wednesdays and Saturdays and kept following the worker in the store.

The worker reported the incident to police on September 8.

Duty lawyer Bernard Bradley said Tonkin would talk to his doctor to ensure there were no underlying issues regarding his psychiatric state and “advancing age”.

He said it was an early guilty plea and that showed remorse.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist fined Tonkin $880 and recorded a conviction.

Originally published as John Charles Noel Tonkin faces Noosa court on wilful exposure charge