A man accused of exposing himself in front of two young girls while crossing Sydney Harbour on a ferry has been convicted of 18 similar offences, a court has heard.
Ralph Glen Ireland, 61, was on a bond for a previous offence when he allegedly exposed himself on Sunday to sisters, aged six and eight.
His lawyer Mary Underwood told Sydney's Central Local Court on Monday that Ireland was enrolled in a therapy program to address his previous behaviour.
The incident occurred on Sunday's 8am (AEDT) ferry from Manly and police were alerted and waiting when it docked at Circular Quay.
Passengers were told to remain on board while officers searched the ferry, found Ireland and arrested him.
The court heard the Manly resident travels by ferry on weekdays on his way to his business at Moorebank, in Sydney's west.
He is listed as a director of Flame Coatings Pty Ltd, a company that provides coatings for industrial surfaces and claims to have introduced thermal spraying technology to Australia.
Magistrate Julie Huber denied Ireland's application for bail.
'The accused's record is littered with convictions of either wilful or obscene exposure and indeed he's been convicted on 18 occasions,' Ms Huber told the court.
'It's quite clear by his record that he will continue to offend by nature of exposing himself.'
Ireland wore a blue collared shirt, a green jumper and green shorts and did not show any emotion in the dock.
He was remanded in custody until his next appearance in the same court for either mention or a plea.
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