Man who dated serial killer's victim in Big W assault

A MAN who carried out "a brazen sexual assault in a public place”, once dated one of convicted serial killer Leonard Fraser's victims.

A 48-year-old faced court over the sexual assault of a young mum at Big W. Picture: Caitlan Charles

A MAN who carried out "a brazen sexual assault in a public place", the latest in "inappropriate behaviour", once dated one of convicted serial killer Leonard Fraser's victims.

Craig Anthony Salter, 48, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Rockhampton District Court to one count of sexual assault.

Salter's link to Fraser's victim came to light when defence barrister Jordan Ahlstrand said Salter had a 12-month relationship with Beverley Leggo.

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Miss Leggo was murdered by Fraser in Rockhampton in 1999.

Salter, who has a 21-year-old child to another woman, was sentenced on Tuesday for thrusting his penis at the buttocks of a 17-year-old mother at Big W at the self-service check outs on September 14, 2017.

Crown prosecutor Lily Jones said the victim was not known to Salter, who was shopping with his 83-year-old mother at the time.

She said the victim had acknowledged him while shopping in the store with her 10-month-old child and her friend.

Ms Jones said while the victim was at the checkout, she felt him come up behind her and thrust his groin at her buttocks.

She was able to tell he was not wearing underwear and could feel his penis.

Salter went to where his mother was but continued to watch the victim and make sexual expressions whenever she bent over.

He told her "I'll see you later love" as she left the store.

She found security and Salter was arrested while he was still at Stockland Rockhampton.

"It was a brazen sexual assault in a public place," Ms Jones said.

Mr Ahlstrand said Salter could not recall the incident.

This was not the first inappropriate conduct towards strange women at public places carried out by Salter.

He was convicted of common assault in Rockhampton Magistrates Court in 2017, and received a $700 fine for inappropriately touching a patient at a doctor's surgery.

Another conviction a year later can not be reported for legal reasons.

Judge Michael Burnett said he noted alcohol, which could be smelt on the victim, had been an issue for years but it was only recently he had enrolled in a program to address the issue.

Judge Burnett said Salter had been on Centrelink payments since 2004.

"It seems to me in the past two years there has been an escalation of inappropriate behaviour towards women," Judge Burnett said.

Mr Ahlstrand said Salter apologised to his victim.

He was sentenced to an 18-month probation order and a conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Man who dated serial killer's victim in Big W assault