A convicted sex offender who was sentenced jail until at least February 26, 2020, for loitering near a children's centre said he was collecting cigarette butts at a nearby cafe.
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The 55-year-old man was convicted last year for committing an act of indecency on a person under 16.
He was also convicted of willful and obscene exposure on 10 occasions between 1997 and 2018, against women, and children aged between seven and 12 years of age.
Due to his offending he was registered under the Child Protection (Offenders Register) Act.
He initially pleaded not-guilty but changed his pleas to guilty on Tuesday.
He has a habit of collecting cigarette butts from the coffee shop which is near the day care.
- Solicitor Lucy Maranga
Reading from a report, Magistrate David Day said the man was assessed as being at a high-risk of reoffending.
However, solicitor Lucy Maranga said the man was medicated for mental health issues and self-referred for treatment.
"He has a habit of collecting cigarette butts from the coffee shop which is near the day care," she said.
On December 19, 2018, he was charged with six counts of loitering in a public place.
He was caught again on May 14, 2019, despite having bail conditions that he not be in the vicinity of places including playgroups, parks, schools, preschools, that are used by people aged under 18.
He was caught after an employee from the centre recognised the man's car and saw him park near the centre and look towards it on May 14. As a result of the offending, the man has been in custody since May 14.
Magistrate David Day gave the man four concurrent 12-month jail sentences with six-month non-parole periods from May 14 to January 13.
The sentences were for for loitering near the children at 7.30am and 3pm in December, 2018. For a fifth occasion at 3pm on December 19, 2018, Mr Day also gave the man a three-year community correction order.
Mr Day also gave the man a 12-month jail sentence with six-month non-parole period from August 27 to February 26, 2020, for loitering near the centre between 9am and 9.10am on May 14.
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