John Samuel Baker appears in court, alleged to have stalked woman bike rider, stopped her and kissed her arm

A man who is alleged to have stalked a woman on his bicycle before going up to her and kissing the stranger on the arm has applied for bail in the Cairns Magistrates Court.

John Samuel Baker has been charged with one count of each of unlawful stalking and sexual assault. Picture: Tinnakorn Jorruang/iStock

A man who is alleged to have stalked a woman on a bicycle before going up to her and kissing her on the arm has applied for bail in the Cairns Magistrates Court.

John Samuel Baker, 53, from Manoora appeared in court on Tuesday, charged with one count each of unlawful stalking and sexual assault.

Mr Baker denies all charges.

The court heard on Easter Sunday afternoon Mr Baker was riding his bike on Gamburra Drive, Redlynch when he came within the vicinity of a woman who was also on a bicycle and is alleged to have started to follow her.

Police prosecutor April Boyce told the court the man stopped the woman and told her was she “gorgeous”.

“He then proceeded to grab her arm and starting kissing it,” Ms Boyce told the court, something she said was “brazen” behaviour.

“The woman went bike riding in Redlynch specifically because she thought it was a safe place to go.”

Ms Boyce told the court Mr Baker a 15-page criminal history which included three stalking convictions in 2001.

“He has also refused to comply with a request to take the DNA from the saliva which he allegedly left on her arm,” she said.

One of two alleged witnesses took a photo of the man after the alleged incident, which was shown to the police who then arrested Mr Baker at Winkworth Street, Bungalow on April 1.

Magistrate James Morton said the allegations were “concerning” and denied the man bail.

Mr Baker will return to court on April 12.

Originally published as John Samuel Baker appears in court, alleged to have stalked woman bike rider, stopped her and kissed her arm