Alcoholic exposed to prison stint

A SELF-CONFESSED alcoholic who drinks up to four litres of wine a day has been jailed after exposing himself at a park in front of shocked walkers and beachgoers.

Steven Brown, 43, pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful exposure and another of public nuisance in the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard Brown was arrested at 8.15pm on Wednesday in Kurrawa Park, after police discovered he had pulled his jeans down and “masturbated for a few seconds” to the “obvious offence of those close by”.

The court was told police saw an empty wine bottle near Brown, who told them during the arrest, “I want to go back to jail”.

It’s not the first time Brown has been before the court.

On October 19 Brown caused a disturbance at the Broadbeach Lifeline on the Gold Coast Hwy.

The court was told when confronted on this occasion, Brown pulled down his pants and gestured towards his genitalia, yelling “see this”.

Brown asked police during the first arrest, “what do I have to do, to go to jail”?

Yesterday, he got his answer. The court was told Brown had a 25-year history of alcohol abuse and was known to drink up to four litres of wine a day. Brown’s duty lawyer suggested a short prison sentence for “forced sobriety” because his compliance with court orders had previously been “quite poor”.

The police prosecutor agreed, suggesting a term of up to a month in prison to protect the public from Brown’s behaviour.

Magistrate Kerrie O’Callaghan sentenced Mr Brown to 14 days in jail.

Ms O’Callaghan said Brown had an extensive history of similar offences which were related to his alcohol abuse. “It will allow you to take a break from alcohol abuse,” she said.

Brown was remanded in custody and is expected to be released on December 13.