Philip Nelson pleads not guilty to sexual touching woman at a Coffs market

A man accused of sexually touching a 19-year-old woman at a community market has fronted court to plead not guilty.

A 68-year-old Fishermans Reach man has pleaded not guilty to allegations he sexually touched a young woman several times at a Coffs Coast community market.

Philip Nelson did not appear in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday due to the Covid-19 lockdown, but pleaded not guilty through his lawyer to a charge of sexually touching a person without consent.

Police allege he touched a 19-year-old on a number of occasions at a Sunday market at the jetty foreshores.

They allege the touching took place at the markets held in June and July.

Detectives started investigating the allegations after receiving reports from the woman in early August.

They led to the arrest of Mr Nelson five days later at the market on the morning of August 5.

He was given conditional bail and will appear in the court again on October 11 after a brief of evidence has been served.

Due to the Covid-19 lockdown defendants are not physically required attend court, with written notices of pleadings currently being accepted.

The pandemic caused major disruptions to Coffs Harbour Local Court proceedings on Monday, with defendants in custody unable to appear in court via audiovisual link due to Clarence Correctional Centre being placed into lockdown.

Corrective Services NSW confirmed it had enforced a statewide lockdown of its facilities, after a number of prisoners in Sydney’s Parklea Prison tested positive to the virus.