Edward Brian Oakley accused of stalking teen for two years, indecent treatment of another child

A Central Queensland family claims to be living in fear of a man accused of regularly peering through their teenage daughter’s windows and taking photos. The man is also accused of creeping into another young girl’s bedroom to touch her. DISTRESSING CONTENT

A court has been told a Central Queensland family has been living in fear of a man accused of stalking, regularly peering through their teenage daughter’s windows and sending the mother photographs, messages and a video call where he allegedly masturbated in view of the camera.

The defendant, 26, is also accused of entering another family’s home and allegedly indecently treating their 13 year old daughter while her family slept.

The accused, Edward Brian Oakley, made a bail application in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on August 31 after being charged with one count of stalking, one of indecent treatment of a child under 16, one of enter dwelling and three breaches of bail.

Police prosecutor Courtney Brown said the alleged stalking of the teenager, aged 16, took place over a two-year period and escalated to sending photographs and video.

“The enter dwelling (allegation) involves the defendant entering the house in the middle of the night with the young girl, being a 13 year old, and her entire family sleeping,” she said.

“He (allegedly) enters her bedroom and caresses up and down the skin of the victim’s right leg.”

A police objection to bail affidavit filed with the court stated police will allege Oakley carried out the act of stalking a Biloela resident aged 16 between September 2020 and August 2022.

“The stalking activities (allegedly) included attending the victim’s dwelling, watching and filming her through the window of her bedroom and contacting her through social media and attempting to expose her to pornographic material,” the affidavit stated.

“The initial stalking incident is alleged to have commenced in September 2020 when the defendant was sighted outside the victim’s bedroom window tapping on the window to which police were called.

“Following this, the defendant began contacting the victim’s mother through Facebook believing he was contacting the victim.

“The defendant messaged stating he had seen the victim naked and that he had been to her address.

“The defendant then proceeded to attempt to send photos, messages and made a video call in which he masturbated in full view of the camera.

“The defendant continued to attend the victim’s address, peering into the victim’s windows during which he was chased by the victim’s family and police were called.

“On one occasion, it appeared the defendant used an implement to cut the window’s screen to gain entry.”

FAMILY INSTALLED CCTV CAMERAS ‘IN FEAR’

The affidavit stated the family installed CCTV cameras “in fear of the defendant” at the end of June.

“Within hours of the installation of the cameras, the defendant attended the dwelling and was caught on the footage looking into the victim’s window,” it stated.

It was alleged that CCTV captured Oakley reattending on July 13 and August 21.

It is alleged he played pornography on his mobile phone through the child’s window and took photographs through the child’s window.

Oakley is accused of breaking into another Biloela family’s home on August 26 about 6am where two parents and four children were sleeping.

In this alleged offence, where Oakley is accused of caressing a 13 year-old’s leg, the affidavit stated the child victim woke up to his touching and initially thought it was a sibling and told him to get out of her room.

The court document stated when the girl realised it was the defendant, who she did not know, she sat up and pushed herself away.

“The defendant told the victim “no, no it’s ok” but the victim began to scream and the defendant fled the dwelling,” the document stated.

It is further alleged in the court documents that Oakley told police he had been drinking rum at his home the night before, stayed up all night and then decided to go “creeping”, which meant going into people’s houses.

“The defendant stated he went to the (13 year old) victim’s dwelling because he found her attractive and wanted to touch her,” the court document stated.

DEFENCE RAISES MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Defence lawyer Ken Spinaze said Oakley’s mental state was not in a position to provide legal instructions and understand the court process and he had been dealing with a diagnosed condition since 2000.

A mental health report filed with the court documents stated Oakley had an impairment of the mind with a history of paranoid schizophrenia comorbid with substance use, marijuana, alcohol and nicotine.

It also stated Oakley had paranoid thoughts about his family and claimed others could read his mind.

The police objection to bail affidavit stated Oakley was on bail at the time of the stalking and indecent treatment offences for three trespass charges and two enter dwelling with intent.

It further stated he had breached his bail conditions three times in five days.

Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead denied Oakley bail, revoked bail on his other charges, ordered briefs of evidence and adjourned Oakley’s matters to October 19.