Drugged man guilty of flashing dog walker

A NAKED man who spread his legs and exposed his penis to a dog walker — asking “do you want some of this?” — was under the influence of synthetic drugs from the internet, a Hobart judge has said.

Brett Langdon Wescombe, 57, was found by police naked and masturbating in his car — surrounded by drugs and sex toys — after almost causing a crash with a truck on the Tasman Highway, the Supreme Court heard this week.

In October, 2017, Wescombe took a 500mg capsule of a synthetic drug he bought from an overseas internet website, but Justice Michael Brett said it was “highly probable” he took more drugs at the Rosny Lookout.

About 7.15am, Wescombe drove up to the dog-walker at a suburban park and opened the driver’s side door, revealing his genitals before the man walked away and phoned police.

Wescombe then drove away in an erratic fashion on the East Derwent and Tasman highways during a period of heavy traffic.

He tailgated other cars, came close to a complete stop on the highway without regard for other traffic, drove at excessive speed, and cut off other cars as he changed lanes.

Police found Wescombe at a Warrane car park, giving officers his brother’s name.

An oral test showed he had consumed cannabis and MDMA. Wescombe was taken into custody for a blood test, but he ran away.

The judge found Wescombe, who claimed he had no memory of what happened, didn’t have reduced culpability because he was intoxicated.

However, Justice Brett did find the act of indecency was “out of character” and attributable to the drug-delirium.

Wescombe, who pleaded guilty to indecency, dangerous driving, providing false information, refusing to submit to the taking of blood and other charges, was given an 18month home detention order.