Townsville Magistrates Court: Police object Matthew John Sorbello’s bail application due to ‘strong sexual fantasies’

A man claimed he was simply ‘at the wrong place at the wrong time’ after it was alleged he was touching himself in a Townsville shopping centre women’s bathroom.

Prisoner Source: iStock / Getty Images

A man who police claim confessed to ‘strong sexual fantasies’ after he was arrested for going into a women’s bathroom at a shopping centre has made a bid for freedom while behind bars.

Matthew John Sorbello appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning via video link telling the court it was difficult for him to gain legal representation while remanded in custody and believed he should be granted bail to help him organise it.

Mr Sorbello has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, two counts of public nuisance, breaching a bail condition and obstructing police and he has stated the charges of sexual assault and breach of bail are contested labelling the offences as “false accusations”.

Police prosecutor Sam Stewart said the charges arose from the man allegedly walking into the women’s toilets at North Ward Shopping Village on August 20 this year in just a shirt and cap with no pants.

Mr Stewart said it’s alleged the man started to “play with himself” while in front of a woman which caused her to yell and she told him to get out, and he then locked himself in the children’s change room.

The prosecutor said police reported they had to undo the screws of a vent and when they looked through they saw the man inside with no pants on before they entered the change room and arrested him.

When magistrate Susan Warrington asked Mr Sorbello to comment on the accusation he said, “I just went into the wrong place at the wrong time”.

Her Honour asked the prosecutor if police had stated any risks of the man being granted bail.

Mr Stewart said the man was an “unacceptable risk” of failing to appear in court as he had been charged and dealt with the last two years for failing to appear.

“Another risk that police have highlighted is there’s an unacceptable risk he will commit a further offence,” the prosecutor said.

“Police go into some detail to state remarks that were made to police officers when speaking to the defendant, the defendant has stated to police he has strong sexual fantasies.

“He also was making at the time sexual comments and actions towards female police officers that were attending at that time and for those reasons police are concerned that sexual-related offending may continue if he’s allowed in the community.”

Mr Sorbello was given another opportunity to speak on the police officers reports where he completely disagreed with what was said.

“I didn’t make any remarks to police, I don’t know where they’re getting all of that from, that is an absolute false accusation on me,” he said.

“I don’t think they have any evidence to back that up. I would never say anything to a police officer especially a female police officer I always hold them the highest respects your honour and I never do that and I’ll never do that.

“That’s a proper false accusation on me.”

Her Honour considered the arguments made by Mr Sorbello as he claimed he had work in concreting and would be more of a “service” to the community not a “risk” but she ultimately said she was not satisfied he had shown cause to be granted bail and the application was refused.

Mr Sorbello could be seen rubbing his eyes in the video link and said he needed to “keep my temper from losing control”.

The matter was adjourned to November 6.

Originally published as Townsville Magistrates Court: Police object Matthew John Sorbello’s bail application due to ‘strong sexual fantasies’