Rodney Fox: Toowoomba saleseman exposes himself in shocking change room act

The criminal history of a Toowoomba salesman and active church member has been revealed in court, after he was sentenced for exposing his penis to a retail worker.

Toowoomba man Rodney William Fox.

A 63-year-old man has fronted court, after he exposed his penis to a young woman, and thrust his crotch in her face while she worked alone at a Toowoomba clothing store.

The 24-year-old woman was working at the store on August 14, when Rodney William Fox approached her for assistance buying pants.

Police prosecutor Natalie Bugden said when Fox went to the change room, he did not close the door, fully exposing his penis to the worker.

Fox asked for his pants to be fitted, and while the woman knelt in front of him, Fox thrust his penis towards her face.

Toowoomba man Rodney William Fox exposed his penis to a young woman and asked her to help with his erection.

The court heard when Fox tried on another pair of pants in a different change room, a similar series of events unfolded.

Fox walked up to the woman and told her he had a problem and needed her help, which prompted the woman to ask what was wrong.

“I have an erection. Can I sort myself out in the change room?” He said.

The court heard the young woman was uncomfortable and asked him not to masturbate in the store.

When police interviewed Fox the next day, he told officers he would not participate in an interview and wanted to speak with a lawyer.

Fox pleaded guilty to committing an indecent act in a public place when he appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The indecent act unearthed Fox’s criminal history, because the new charge was similar in nature, however the former crime was significantly more serious.

The court heard in 2012, Fox was sentenced to a 9-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, after he was convicted of committing a crime against a female in the early 2000s.

Magistrate Kyna Morice said Fox’s criminal history was relevant to the court and showed he may be a person who needed supervision and support within the community.

“It is of a similar concerning nature, it is still against a young female in circumstances where she was (alone)… once she realised what was occurring she would have been terrified,” she said.

The father of three’s lawyer, Danielle Gill, tendered a number of letters to the court in support of Fox.

Toowoomba man Rodney William Fox.

Ms Gill said the “born and bred” Queenslander had worked in sales for about 40 years and was a member of Toowoomba’s Highlands Church.

“The offence in question was not planned and he is deeply remorseful,” she said.

“There’s really nothing I can indicate as to why this has happened. it’s come out of the blue, he didn’t expect it to happen.

“It may be possible to consider this (crime) is not an indication that he is not predisposed to this sort of offending.

“Having said that, the nature of the offending itself is very serious, the facts speak for themselves, it was over a protracted period of time.

“He’s taken steps to ensure that this type of offending will not occur again.”

The Toowoomba courthouse. Picture: Peta McEachern

During his sentence, Magistrate Morice said Fox’s advances upon the unsuspecting worker would have been terribly upsetting and terrifying.

“(This) does raise a concern despite Ms Gill’s submissions, that you may be someone who is susceptible to committing these sorts of offences moving forward which is concerning to the court,” she said.

Ms Morice sentenced Fox to a two-year probation order where he will be under the supervision of a Queensland Corrective Service officer.