A serial flasher has been declared an extreme risk to the public and locked up by a bewildered magistrate, who says "there's clearly something wrong with him".
Peter Christopher Martin, 35, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with indecent exposure. He did not enter a plea.
Police documents tendered to the court say a woman living opposite Martin at the Southside Village caravan park in Symonston saw him standing outside a cabin and yelling "I want a blow job" last Friday afternoon.
Less than two hours later, according to the woman, Martin emerged from his cabin completely naked.
Martin then went for a walk, police allege, exposing himself to three children who were riding their bicycles. The youngest of the children was just four years old.
Police say they arrested Martin shortly after these incidents, and allege that he was masturbating in the police vehicle en route to the ACT Watch House.
The court heard on Thursday that the unemployed man had been sent for a mental health assessment following his arrest, and the results indicated he was not suffering from any condition or disorder that would explain matters.
This came as a surprise to Special Magistrate Margaret Hunter.
"I can't fathom the diagnosis bit, but there's clearly something wrong with him to behave in the way he has," Ms Hunter said.
Ms Hunter said Martin was currently subject to a suspended jail sentence, and on her reading of his criminal record this would be the sixth very similar offence in a short period of time.
A Legal Aid duty lawyer representing Martin conceded he had "an unenviable record".
She applied for the 35-year-old to be released on bail, saying he had instructed her that he suffered from anxiety and that he was now taking medications he did not have last week.
The lawyer said while there were concerning allegations of young children having been exposed to Martin's naked body in public, there was nothing to suggest he had approached or actively looked for them.
"It seems that they were just unlucky enough to be there at the time," she said.
But Ms Hunter fired back: "Not if they live there. It's not a question of luck."
Prosecutor Michael Gemmell opposed the bail application, but Ms Hunter made up her mind without needing to hear his concerns.
The magistrate said the public would be at risk if Martin was freed.
"The risk of reoffending is very, very extreme," she said.
"It seems to me that these are very serious offences and this is very serious behaviour."
Martin made a noise of disapproval and shook his head as Ms Hunter explained why he would be remanded in custody.
He is expected back in court on September 25.
