Silk Thai: Outrage from Mandurah community forces restaurant closed after owner showed pic of penis to girl

A Mandurah restaurant run by a serial pervert who showed pictures of his penis to an 11-year-old girl has closed after public outrage over his disgusting behaviour.

Kenneth May, who owned Silk Thai on Mandurah Terrace for 14 years, repeatedly showed sexually explicit images to young women between January 2023 and August 2024.

May was convicted earlier this month of two counts of indecent public behavior after initial charges in 2024, including possession of child abuse material and indecently dealing with a child aged 13 to 16, were downgraded.

May pleaded guilty to lesser charges just weeks before her trial.

After details of the case were published in the Mandurah Times on April 5, concerned community members began protesting outside the Mandurah Terrace restaurant in May.

We don’t want such people near family areas.

Organizer Elizabeth Oxley said the demonstration was not about anger, but about protection, awareness and drawing boundaries as a community.

“We protested because our children deserve to feel safe. Silence helps no one and we have a responsibility to speak up when something isn’t right,” Ms Oxley said.

“I couldn’t even imagine the trauma at the ages of 11 and 15… If I had seen those photos at that age, I would have been horrified.

“We’re here to show kids that we’re here for them, but we’re also here to show others (predators) that we’re alert, we’re on guard, we’re watching. We want them to be afraid.”

Protester Michael Klyne said he was disturbed by the restaurant’s proximity to the waterfront east playground.

“I don’t think she (May) should be anywhere near children’s facilities,” Mr. Klyne said.

“Our priority is our children. We don’t want such people near family areas.”

At the time of the first crime, May was discussing puberty with an 11-year-old victim at the restaurant.

He took the opportunity to show the girl a photo of himself standing naked in front of the mirror.

In the other incident, May was sitting at her table in a restaurant while a 13-year-old victim showed the girl a picture of a penis in the bar area and laughed.

A notice appeared on Google on Monday that the Thai restaurant was permanently closed.

A message was also posted on Silk Thai’s website and Facebook page thanking ‘esteemed guests’ for their 14 years of support to the restaurant’s customers.

“It has been a privilege to share our passion for Thai food, hospitality and community with you. Your loyalty and courage meant the world to us,” the message read.

“A special thank you to our guests who have continued to support us over the past 18 months.

“Your faith in us during these difficult times did not go unnoticed and we are truly grateful.”

May was banned from working at his restaurant after the first accusations in 2024, but was allowed to return to work with his Thai-born wife last month.

He immigrated to Australia from New Zealand, where he was imprisoned for similar crimes, in 2007.

Judge Craig Astill sentenced May to a 12-month community-based sentence with programming and supervision requirements, pointing out that previous prison time should have been a significant incentive for the restaurateur to attend rehabilitation.

Handing down the sentence at Perth district court, Judge Astill said: “I want to make it clear that this needs to be at the top of your list of priorities to deal with the underlying issues of this behavior because I share the state’s concern that if you don’t then there is a risk of harm to other members of society, whoever they may be.”

“In terms of what some of this evidence might suggest, it suggests to me that you have a very inappropriate attitude when dealing with children and what the boundaries of appropriate behavior might be, because there would be very few people who would think that showing a penis to a 13-year-old was an appropriate thing to do, whatever the circumstances.

“But I accept that this was not something that was sexually motivated or what is often referred to as grooming behavior, but it was certainly inappropriate.”

During sentencing, Judge Astill added that the photographs would “disturb” the victims.

“Despite her discomfort, there was an element of persistence and perhaps, as an 11-year-old girl, she didn’t know how to express that discomfort or how uncomfortable she was with what you were doing,” Judge Astill said.

“Then he tried to detach himself from it like an 11-year-old would, but you persisted, trying to point it out to him.

“The fact that he was an 11-year-old boy and you showed him this picture of your penis, your belly, your legs would obviously bother him.”

Mandurah Times has contacted the owners of Silk Thai for comment.