Christopher Neale Roberts jailed for 14 offences committed while subject to probation order

A 37-year-old who gained notoriety for indecent acts in public has been jailed for less controversial offences. See his latest.

A 37-year-old Toowoomba man, who has gained a certain notoriety through his indecent acts in public, has been jailed again but for far less controversial offences.

ChristopherNeale Roberts appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday via video link from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to plead guilty to 14 offences.

However, while he has been jailed in the past for such acts as public masturbation and nude and rude exhibitions in front of street CCTV cameras, Roberts’ latest offences included six counts of stealing, and one each of attempted stealing, failing to properly dispose of a needle and syringe, two of public nuisance, two of breaching bail and breaching a probation order by reoffending.

Christopher Neale Roberts charged with wilful exposure 11/8/22.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Natalie Bugden told the court Roberts’ probation order stemmed from previous indecent acts in public and he had been jailed for similar offending in the past.

Roberts had spent 73 days in pre-sentence custody on these fresh offences, she said.

Magistrate Rohan Silva said the stealing offences were at the lower end of the scale but there were “a lot of them”.

A threatening violence charge had been replaced by one count of public nuisance but Mr Silva found that to be particularly serious.

In that count Roberts had attended a Toowoomba cafe demanding a free feed of fish and chips and, after being given free hot chips, threatened to stab the shop attendant because the free fish was not forthcoming, he said.

Roberts’ solicitor Chris Neville, of Condon Charles Lawyers, said his client’s history spoke for itself but the one positive benefit Roberts had gained since being in custody was that he was clean of drugs.

Toowoomba Courthouse in Hume St, Toowoomba City.

Before his recent offending, Roberts had been in concreting for 15 years and had his own business and when he was released from jail he intended staying away from drugs and returning to concreting work, he said.

His client instructed he also wanted to return to Muay Thai fight training to improve his health physically and mentally, Mr Neville submitted.

Magistrate Silva revoked the probation order and on Roberts’ original offences and his latest charges sentenced him to nine months in jail but, declaring 73 days pre-sentence custody as time served, ordered he be released on parole as of February 17 after having served one-third of the head sentence.