Stanley Malcolm Douglas Farmer: Albany man called ‘sexual deviant’ and jailed for indecent and obscene acts

A “sexual deviant” and registered child sex offender who has terrorised Albany women in their homes and workplaces for months has been jailed. Stanley Malcolm Douglas Farmer appeared in Albany Magistrates Court via video link from Albany Regional Prison on Thursday, charged with 12 offences. The offending began on August 26, 2024, when Farmer startled a cleaner at Spencer Park Primary School by tapping her on the shoulder to ask for a phone charger, causing her to fall off her ladder and rip her earring out. Six months later, the 55-year-old terrorised female employees in the Spencer Park Priceline Pharmacy, rubbing his genitals in front of them on January 9 and again on January 15, once while watching pornography. Later that evening, he trespassed on three Spencer Park properties to peep into homes, including that of a woman who was naked and alone, pressing his face against her window before rattling her door and asking to come in to use a phone charger. The following day, police arrested Farmer — who was registered as a child sex offender in 2013 — and found he had not complied with requirements to report his online activities, including porn subscriptions, email addresses, social media, online shopping and dating accounts. He was released on bail only to return to a different Priceline Pharmacy on April 7, this time in Dog Rock Boulevarde, rubbing his genitals in front of female employees and stealing hair dye, mascara and condoms. After staff asked him to leave, he continued to rub himself until police arrived. Defence lawyer Sonia Anderson said Farmer has “some awareness” of his offending as he stops when he sees people watching and is “utterly ashamed” when sober. She also said neurological impairments from drug and alcohol abuse meant he struggled to comply with his reporting duties. Sgt Dylan Fisher said the “predatory and intimidating” offending combined with the trespassing was “truly terrifying”. “The community is supporting women’s rights, the right not to be objectified and the right to feel safe from predators,” he said. “In the case of the accused, he infringes on those rights in public, at shops, in their workplaces and directly at people’s homes. “He is a sexual deviant, forcing young women to be part of his sexual fetishes.” He said the stealing offences were a ploy to ensure Farmer had the women’s attention before touching himself. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell handed him a one year and six-month jail term, backdated to February 20 with eligibility for parole, and fined him $1050 for the assault and stealing offences, plus court costs of $456.50. If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14