Court told Fairbrother an egotist who thinks he an do what he likes

A local councillor accused of flashing a holidaying family at a popular Tasmanian beach has been labelled a brazen, arrogant, egotist in court.

A TASMANIAN councillor accused of flashing his genitalia at a holidaying family at a North West beach has been labelled a brazen, arrogant, egotist in a court hearing.

Waratah-Wynyard councillor Darren Fairbrother has been accused of holding open his towel and flashing three times at crown prosecutor Kate Brown and her son as they enjoyed some time at Boat Harbour Beach on January 6 last year.

Mr Fairbrother has pleaded not guilty to a charge of prohibited behaviour in relation to the alleged lewd incident.

The court was told he stood on a high rock and opened his towel wide three times while facing the beachgoers.

“His conduct was brazen and arrogant and he flashed for sexual gratification,” prosecutor Phillipa Edwards told visiting magistrate Teresa Anderson.

“His fabrication that the report made to police of him flashing was to take him down is all about his ego. He thinks he can do what he likes.”

Ms Edwards alleged Mr Fairbrother had been paying close attention to Mrs Brown when she was on the balcony of a property she was staying at with her husband Magistrate Simon Brown and their two sons.

She alleged he then went to the beach and his sexual interest in her was what drove his lewd behaviour.

Ms Edwards alleged Mr Fairbrother tried to cover his face when he realised Mrs Brown had a camera and was ready to film him coming out of the water.

“His brazen arrogance changes when she gets her phone out and he covers his face with a towel and leaves the beach,” she said.

Boat Harbour in Tasmania's north-west. Photo: Swag Family/ Adventure Learning Australia

Cr Fairbrother’s defence counsel Paul Sullivan suggested to Mrs Brown that what she saw on January 6 was a man in a G-string with exposed buttocks.

She denied that suggestion saying they could clearly see his genitalia and he was standing facing them.

Mr Sullivan said there was still a reasonable doubt Mr Fairbrother took part in any prohibited behaviour that day and doubt over what Mrs Brown claimed she could see from an estimated distance which varied substantially according to witnesses.

Magistrate Anderson said she would hand down her written decision on April 27.