Lockyer Valley bus driver Ashley Scott Florance caught red-handed masturbating at Toowoomba shopping centre

A former Australian Army serviceman has pleaded guilty to exposing himself in public after two women and a child were confronted by the masturbating bus driver at a busy Toowoomba shopping centre carpark.

Toowoomba man Ashley Scott Florance leaving the Toowoomba courthouse in November 2024 after pleading guilty to masturbating in public.

A former Australian Army serviceman fronted a Toowoomba court after he was caught red-handed masturbating in an exhibitory manner at a busy shopping centre carpark on a Thursday morning in October.

The court was told Ashley Scott Florance was sitting in the driver’s seat of a white ute parked at Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre when he locked eyes with two women who were returning to their car after shopping.

The 50-year-old married man then lifted himself up while masturbating, exposing himself to the women.

There was a very young child with the pair at the time.

Toowoomba man Ashley Scott Florance leaving the Toowoomba courthouse in November 2024 after pleading guilty to masturbating in public.

The Murphys Creek man fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, November 12, and pleaded guilty to wilfully and unlawfully committing an indecent act in a public place.

Police prosecutor Nicholas Pratt said police soon attended the centre after receiving a complaint about a man masturbating in front of a woman and her friend.

Mr Pratt said she told officers she was loading her car when the man made his presence known.

“(He) had his hips lifted out of the seat exposing his penis while masturbating,” he said.

“A witness attempted to approach (Florance) and yelled out, ‘what are you doing here mate’? It caused the defendant to drive out of the car park and leave the location.”

Mr Pratt said Florance later received a call from the police asking him to attend the police station, where he made full admissions.

“(He) provided no lawful emergent reason for the act,” Mr Pratt told the court.

Cars parked in a suburban shopping centre, Clifford Gardens Toowoomba, Friday, June 14, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Florance was then charged, arrested, and placed in the Toowoomba watch-house before being granted bail.

Mr Pratt said given there was a dated entry on Florance’s criminal history that was similar in nature, a higher penalty than a fine was warranted, such as a 12 to 18-month probation order.

“The inference can be drawn from the (incident) that there’s some issues psychologically that a therapeutic condition, counselling, hopefully, would help (via a probation order),” he said.

Solicitor Sean Gallagher also said a probation order was within range however submitted the length be between nine to 12 months.

He said the father of four was joined in court by a supportive friend and neighbour who said Florance acted “wildly out of character”.

“Since his arrest, he’s sought counselling,” he said

“He has expressed to me deep embarrassment and humiliation … and is extremely remorseful and does want to express to court and the community at large his apologies to the victim.”

Mr Gallagher said Florance was a truck driver working as a bus driver for a mining company after serving in the military for 13 years, which included five months of active duty in 2000 in East Timor.

“He’s the main breadwinner bringing home approximately $1400 a week after tax so it would cause significant hardship were his employment be at risk as a result of a conviction being recorded,” he said.

Florance was placed on a 15-month probation order and no conviction was recorded.