Darren Lindsay Fairbrother back in court fighting new charges related to flashing conviction

A former Tasmanian councillor was convicted of flashing on a North-West beach while still in local government. He is now back in court on charges related to that conviction.

Waratah-Wynyard councillor Darren Fairbrother

A former councillor who flashed his penis at a woman and her son is set to face a hearing over allegations he failed to adequately report to police following his conviction.

Darren Lindsay Fairbrother has been charged with nine counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations related to intended travel.

Mr Fairbrother has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

While still a Waratah-Wynyard councillor, in January 2021, he flashed Kate Brown and her son at Boat Harbour Beach.

In 2022, Mr Fairbrother was convicted over the incident and was fined $800 and ordered to register as a sex offender for two years.

Boat Harbour Beach in the state’s North-West. Picture: Tourism Tasmania/Pete Harmsen.

He was also charged with trespassing a Boat Harbour property, but the matter was dismissed in the Burnie Magistrates Court in 2023 after going to hearing.

Mr Fairbrother was suspended as a Waratah-Wynyard councillor for three months after being convicted of flashing over code of conduct breaches related to the case, but he refused to resign.

However, he did not recontest in the 2022 Tasmanian local government elections.

Mr Fairbrother appeared in the Burnie Magistrates Court on Wednesday without a lawyer, saying he intended to represent himself.

“It’s not my desire to do that,” he said.

“But yes, it does appear that because of the lateness of it that, I will be representing myself.”

Mr Fairbrother told the court that he attempted to mediate with police prosecutors “an outcome where he would make certain concessions”.

“I was of the understanding that things were proceeding along those lines,” he said.

“I was notified yesterday that wasn’t going to occur.”

Police prosecutors said Mr Fairbrother had issues accessing videos that would be used as evidence in the upcoming hearing because he was representing himself.

“They’re [the videos] all through evidence.com, which all the defence lawyers have an account with.

“With self-represented defendants, they would need to make an appointment to come into the police station to view that.”

The hearing is set to begin on April 16.