Women in Ballina say they are now afraid to go to the beach alone, with police yet to locate a man repeatedly reported for exposing himself despite multiple alleged incidents over the past six months.

In the latest incident, police were called to Lighthouse Beach in East Ballina about 8 am on Saturday following reports of a man engaging in a sexual act.

Officers attached to Richmond Police District attended and searched the area but were unable to locate a man matching the description provided.

The incident is one of a series of reports across Lighthouse Beach, Angels Beach, South Angels Beach and Shelly Beach, raising concerns about safety on some of the region’s most popular stretches of coastline.

Witness shaken after Lighthouse Beach encounter

Local woman Julie Thomas, who saw the man on Saturday morning, said the incident had shaken her confidence.

“The bloke I saw at Lighthouse this morning was probably about 20 to 30 years old, slim build, tanned, with short hair,” Ms Thomas said.

“I walk on that beach a lot and have never been worried about anything like that.

“I’m 70 and it really upset me that someone could do that.”

Pattern of alleged incidents across Ballina beaches

An investigation by Ballina News Daily, in conjunction with Ballina Crime Reports, can confirm multiple reported incidents over the past six months.

The majority of witness accounts describe a male in his late 20s or early 30s who is tall with a slim build, dark hair and eyes, and missing teeth.

Some reports allege the man may be living in a makeshift camp near Lighthouse Beach.

Above: One of the many bushy walkways to Angels, women say they now fear walking.

Main Image: A photo supplied to Ballina Crime Reports of a man alleged to have sexually exposed himself to a woman at Angels Beach last September.  Ballina News Daily has obscured the man’s face.  The original is available to police.

In September 2025, a report on Ballina Crime Reports alleged a man at Angels Beach photographed two young females while engaging in a sexual act.

The report said the man followed them towards the showers before disappearing into nearby bushland.

Ballina resident Julie Lahiff said she had seen a man at Angels Beach around 4pm one afternoon in September.

“He seemed extremely agitated and looked like he wanted to expose himself,” she said.

“He started to pull down his pants, but when he realised there were too many people around, he ran up the track into the bush.

“I could see him begin masturbating.”

On January 1, 2026, Ballina man Chris Robbins told Ballina News Daily his partner was followed by a naked man near Angels Beach at dusk, between 6pm and 7pm, after he emerged from nearby bushland.

In March 2026, another report alleged a man in black shorts and a white T-shirt followed a young woman near Angels Beach towards the overpass track at about 6.30pm before dropping his clothing and masturbating.

On March 6, a report alleged a man was seen flashing women and masturbating in the dunes at Angels Beach near the Silvergull Drive overpass at about 9am.

A second report from the same day said the man was still in the area at about 11am.

The witness said her husband had been walking the dog when he saw a slim man in black board shorts standing and staring before the man ran into nearby bushes, removed his shorts and ran naked into the ocean.

An anonymous March 27 report also placed similar behaviour at Shelly Beach.

The witness said a man was seen near the bushes by the mid car park at about 6.30am before dropping his pants and masturbating.

On the night of April 10, Crystal Braumann said her sister saw a man behaving indecently at Shelly Beach between 8pm and 9pm.

Ms Braumann said her sister had just used the toilets and was sitting in her car near the beach when the man walked past several times, then sat near the toilet block and began touching himself.

William Steel said he was with a female friend at Angels Beach a few weeks ago when they saw a man masturbating.

Cathy Hickling told Ballina News Daily she encountered a man on a bush track near South Angels Beach about two months ago who was naked from the waist down.

One of the many homeless camps at Lighthouse Beach

Women changing behaviour over safety fears

Several women who contacted Ballina News Daily said the incidents had changed the way they use local beaches, particularly when alone.

For Chris Robbins, who reported the January 1 incident, the impact has lasted well beyond the encounter itself.

“It has been really difficult. We live right on the beach and my partner no longer feels safe walking there alone, even to take the dog,” he said.

Police appeal

Police inquiries into Saturday’s Lighthouse Beach incident are ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.