A man will appear in court later this month after being charged over indecency and intimidation offences at the NPWS car park on Grays Lane at Tyagarah at the weekend.
About 11.35am on Saturday 3 November 2018, a 30-year-old woman was jogging east along Grays Lane when she noticed a white utility parked on the side of the dirt road.
The woman told police that the male driver looked at her intently, which made her feel uncomfortable, and she crossed to other side of the road in an effort to keep some distance between them.
As she continued her run the woman saw that the utility drove past her and stopped a short distance ahead. The man alighted from the utility and walked towards her grinning.
As the woman continued her run to the beach the utility slowly followed her and then passed her. The woman continued towards the beach hoping that there would be other people in the area.
As she entered the carpark the woman saw that the man was now standing outside the utility and was naked.
When the woman walked past the man, he looked at her and performed an indecent act.
The woman continued to the beach, but could not find anyone to assist her. When she returned to the carpark the man again performed an indecent act.
The woman ran for some distance to her home and told her partner. They attended the car park and located the white utility which they photographed. Police were contacted and details of the vehicle were provided to police.
Officers from Tweed Byron Police District were travelling to Tyagarah Beach about 1.25pm when they observed the utility travelling along Grays Lane.
The officers spoke to a 33-year-old man who was driving the utility and arrested him.
The man was conveyed to Byron Bay Police Station and later charged with commit act of indecency and intimidation.
He has been granted strict conditional bail to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on Thursday 22 November 2018.
Police will continue to work closely with other stakeholders including NPWS, Byron Shire Council and the Byron Safe Beaches Committee to keep the area safe.
Byron Naturists extend their thanks to the brave woman whose actions helped catch a man who allegedly committed a lewd act towards her in the NPWS car park at Grays Lane.
We also commend the police action in capturing the alleged perpetrator.
At last month’s Byron Shire Council meeting, Cr Basil Cameron put a motion that, among other things, would have seen CCTV cameras erected in the car park, specifically to capture number plates and assist in identification of perpetrators.
That motion, although passed, is now subject to a rescission motion, which means the move to install the cameras has stalled.
We call on council to pass this motion at November’s meeting to help end, once and for all, actions such as these in the area.
Imagine if the co beach had not be moved. There would have been lots of people at the carpark to help her.
If they close it down there will be hardly anyone there. This will make it easier for the weirdos.
They should move the co to belongil. Closer to town. More people and closer to police response.
Brett, thank you for your thoughts. Believe it or not but genuine Naturists are not exhibitionists who want to take up sand space with 22,000 other ‘Textile’ beach goers. Moving the CO Beach closer to mainstream beaches will create problems.
Naturists are peaceful thoughtful community who like their own personal space, it’s ettiquette to give each other space on the beach but to also look out for others safety and peace of mind.
We’d asked Council on many occasions to extend Tyagarah CO beach even back to original declared area and perhaps beyond to utilise safety at Tyagarah South area which is now from Bayshore Drive Public access path 1.9km walk to even cross into CO Beach declared area. Extension of the CO Beach another 1.2 km south truly makes more sense and also utilising carparking Bayshore Drive and public transport.
We truly thank all stakeholder groups, Police, Council, NPWS and all Naturist Community and together we can stamp out indecent behaviour and make all Beaches, Public areas in Byron Safe.
This is a community issue not only directed to CO Beaches.
Debra Conomy
Byron Naturist Group.
Yes Brett, It must be much more risky now for local resident ladies to jog down along Greys Lane, now that fewer people are visiting the beach and using the road and car park.
Back when the car park was packed with visiting cars and people, such unsavory actions by any individual would be unlikely. It is a great pity there was no nudist or clothed person on the beach to give this distressed lady assistance.
What is wrong with some men on the Far North Coast ? We don’t get these reports of indecency from clothing optional beaches down south – such as Samuari, Birdie, Werrong, Cobblers and Obelisk.