A 20-year-old man who masturbated on children's clothes hanging on a washing line has been given the all clear to work with young people in the future.
The man, who is training to be an occupational therapist in New South Wales, Australia, committed the act in 2014 when his neighbours were not home.
He was arrested on his 18th birthday but the charges were dropped on condition he undergo psychological treatment.
He told a psychologist he was experiencing stress from work and his personal life at the time and wanted to feel the “rush” of doing something “not right”.
“I never intended to hurt anybody or put the neighbours through anything,” he said, according to News.com.au.
In order to continue with his studies, however, he needed clearance to work with children.
Given his previous behaviour, the New South Wales Children’s Guardian refused to approve the check, on the basis he could pose a risk to children.
The man has now been granted a “Working with Children Check” by the New South Wales’ Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which accepted evidence from psychologists that his behaviour was not the result of a sexual fetish but anti-social behaviour.
The tribunal found he appreciated the seriousness of his behaviour, but found he does not pose a real risk to children’s safety.
