Dylan Zanuso-O’Neill: Clunes man faces court on sexual touching charge

A Northern Rivers man has faced court charged with sexually touching a young girl on the breast and thigh in an incident that police say left her “distraught”.

A Northern Rivers man has faced court charged with sexually touching a young girl on the breast and thigh in an incident that police say left her “distraught”.

Dylan Zanuso-O’Neill, a painter by trade, appeared at Ballina Local Court via audiovisual link from Clarence Correctional Centre on Monday charged with a single count of intentionally sexually touching a young child at a Lismore address.

Documents tendered to the court reveal police will allege Zanuso-O’Neill sat next to the child in a social setting before reaching over and grabbing the victim’s thigh and breast.

Police will allege say Zanuso-O’Neill commented “they’re small” before the victim said “what are you doing?”.

Zanuso-O’Neill denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Documents then allege the victim got up and ran to her relative who was nearby and Zanuso-O’Neill approached the two of them.

Police will allege the accused began apologising to the victim, stating “sorry, I thought you were (someone else).”

Police were subsequently called to the address and Zanuso-O’Neill was placed under arrest.

Zanuso-O’Neill denied touching the victim.

Court documents say the 33-year old is “currently employed full-time, he has a previous conviction for a similar sexual touching offence” and he “served a period of imprisonment for other offences within the last two years”.

“The (alleged) offence involves a young child and the nature of the (alleged) offending is considered to be of a serious nature given the age and vulnerability of the victim”, the court documents state.

At court, Magistrate Jeff Linden granted Zanuso-O’Neill strict bail conditions to report to police three days a week and may only leave his address in his father’s company.

He is to attend counselling and must not enter Lismore except to work or report to police and only in his father’s company.

He is also not to drink alcohol or use any illegal or prescription drugs except for a drug that is prescribed to him.

Zanuso-O’Neill is also unable to have contact with anyone who is or could be a prosecution witness unless through a lawyer.

His mother and father have entered a bail security agreement worth $10,000 which will be forfeited if Zanuso-O’Neill doesn’t comply with his bail conditions.

More details of the case will be heard in court on Monday.