Police fear for children’s safety at Ocean Grove

Alex de Vos
A man’s “horrendous” sexual display in front of young boys at Ocean Grove’s main beach has alarmed police.
Bellarine Police Senior Constable said the bald man terrified the four 13 and 14-year-old boys when he exposed his genitals and masturbated in front of them in the surf.
The incident followed reports last month of a separate “serial flasher” at Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads.
Sen Const Lawry said the man in the latest incident was naked when he began “splashing around in the water” behind the boys.
“He splashed around in the water and got the boys’ attention and then started masturbating in front of them,” Sen Const Roger Lawry said.
“One of the kids said something and he ran off into the Dunes Restaurant car park.”
The boys described the male as in his late 40s to early 50s, about 177 centimetres tall with a shaved head and a beer gut.
Sen Const Lawry described the incident as “pretty horrendous”.
“Stuff like this just shouldn’t be happening.”
Sen Const Lawry said the latest incident had heightened fears for the safety of children at Ocean Grove.
“This is the first one that has actually walked down completely naked and started doing it (masturbating) in front of kids,” Sen Const Lawry said.
Last month Bellarine Police said witnesses had reported another man “wilfully” exposing his genitals, “masquerading while jogging” and masturbating in front of beachgoers.
Police described the man as in his late 20s to early 30s, about 183cm with an athletic, solid build and sandy-coloured hair.
He urged witnesses and victims to come forward immediately.