Barrister Charles Waterstreet apologises after sexual harassment complaints

Sydney barrister Charles Waterstreet has apologised to four women who complained he allegedly subjected them to cringing incidents of sexual harassment.

Maverick Sydney barrister Charles Waterstreet has issued a grovelling apology to four women who complained they were left speechless after he ­allegedly subjected them to eye watering incidents of sexual harassment, saying: “I was just playing the court jester.”

But the well-known lawyer insists “I’m no Weinstein’’ and says he has been targeted by the Me Too movement.

The governing body of the Bar Association, the Bar Council, has ruled the complaints against 71-year-old criminal lawyer, including a claim that during a job interview, he showed former University of Sydney law student Tina Huang a video of him being masturbated by two sex workers, will be referred to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for disciplinary hearings.

Sydney barrister Charles Waterstreet says he was just playing the “court jester” amid accusations he made lewd comments to women who worked for him, or attended interviews at this Sydney chambers. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Bar Council concluded the alleged inappropriate behaviour towards Ms Huang and three other women by Mr ­Waterstreet, who is said to have inspired the ABC TV series Rake, may constitute professional misconduct or unsatisfactory professional conduct.

“There is no doubt I have been the target of the Me Too movement but in retrospect it was all directed at a portion of my personality that was vulnerable,’’ Mr Waterstreet told The Daily Telegraph.

“Law and my way of life messed me up. I’m now a changed man. I thought I was acting in a completely open manner with no boundaries.

“Whether it was inappropriate language or sexual harassment, there was no indication they were unwanted.

“All the women laughed at the time and the witnesses for each encounter agree.

Charles Waterstreet says he will always be a womaniser. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Nevertheless I’m deeply sorry for any hurt and embarrassment caused. I was a motor mouth. My outing as a court jester has made me audit my life.

“The masturbation video was intended as a joke as I skipped past videos in my phone for a Penthouse article I had written.

“I am sad that irony has disappeared, but I will always be a womaniser.”

Mr Waterstreet also objected to being referred to as “Australia’s Weinstein’’ in an article written by Ms Huang.

“Tina wrote an article about her encounter headed, ‘Waterstreet is Australia’s Weinstein’,’’ he said. “Comparing me with Weinstein was highly exaggerated and that parallel did cause me harm. I may be a dork, but I’m no Weinstein.”

The eccentric barrister, who was suspended from practice three years ago, after 45 years at the bar, for failing to tell the NSW Bar Association he was bankrupt, now risks being permanently banned.

According to the Bar Council’s decision to refer to NCAT, Mr Waterstreet is also accused of showing former law student Sarah Knight, 28, a black vibrating sex toy in an interview at his Elizabeth St office and also showed her his bottle of Viagra.

Paralegal Genevieve Wilks claimed Mr Waterstreet showed her naked photographs of himself and a woman.

“The Bar Council is of the view that the alleged conduct may amount to professional misconduct, and may at least amount to unsatisfactory professional conduct,’’ the Bar Council document concluded.