Council planning officer felt unsafe when confronted with a man exposing himself at a window

A council planning officer was putting notices up outside a house when a man inside positioned himself at a window and exposed himself, a court has heard.

A KINGBOROUGH Council planning officer was putting notices up outside a house when a man inside the house positioned himself at a bay window at the front of the house and exposed himself, a court has heard.

Justin Bradley Piper, 22, had pleaded guilty to one count of prohibited behaviour.

The Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday heard Piper exposed himself to the female officer and started masturbating.

The planning officer felt unsafe and called police.

Piper’s lawyer, Dexter Marcenko, said his client was genuinely remorseful.

Mr Marcenko said that at the time of the crime Piper had “little insight” into the consequences of his behaviour on the woman who witnessed it, but had since developed an understanding of the consequences.

He said Piper had been “moved to tears at times when contemplating his actions”.

Piper wiped away tears as Mr Marcenko addressed Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason.

The court heard Piper was convicted in 2016 for a similar crime committed in Sandy Bay.

Mr Marcenko said it was not until after last year’s crime that Piper sought professional help.

“Prior to this offending he hasn’t taken that step of confronting the issue head on,” Mr Marcenko said.

He said Piper wanted to receive treatment so he would not be at risk of reoffending.

Ms Geason said Piper was “at real risk of a term of imprisonment” but she deferred sentencing Piper until he had a chance to engage with a clinical psychologist and demonstrate that he was taking steps to rehabilitate.

Ms Geason continued Piper’s bail until his next court appearance in July.