A Waratah-Wynyard councillor has been found guilty of exposing his penis three times on a North-West beach early last year.
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The Burnie Magistrates Court had heard Boat Harbour's Darren Lindsey Fairbrother in January 2021 flashed his "flaccid penis" on a secluded beach to Launceston Crown prosecutor Katrina Brown and her teenage son.
He was charged with a count of prohibited behaviour, and the case was taken to a three-day hearing after he flatly denied the allegation.
South Australian Magistrate Teresa Anderson delivered the verdict just after 10am on Wednesday, finding it beyond reasonable doubt that Fairbrother had exposed himself three times in the presence of a woman and a young person.
In her verdict Ms Anderson called Mrs Brown an "honest" witness who was comfortable in court and who had admitted when her story did not align with earlier accounts.
The magistrate said Fairbrother, on the other hand, had given evidence in a "confident but almost rehearsed manner".
The magistrate added that his account had not born up to close scrutiny in cross examination, had been disingenuous and had directly conflicted with witness accounts she found to be truthful.
Prosecutor Phillipa Edwards argued Fairbrother had not shown any remorse for his actions, and needed to be sentenced in a way that would deter him from repeating the offence.
She suggested the magistrate restrict Fairbrother access to the secluded beach where the offending occurred. The court had heard Fairbrother himself said he had been a regular user of that beach for years.
"Yes," came a loud cry from a member of the public gallery in response to the suggestion.
The magistrate will sentence Fairbrother on May 13.
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