Man accused of flashing women on Bay Run denied bail
A FATHER-TO-BE accused of flashing six women on the popular Bay Run has been refused bail in court because of an “unacceptable risk” to the community and a “flavour of compulsion” in the allegations against him.
NSW
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A FATHER-TO-BE accused of flashing six women on the popular Bay Run has been refused bail in court because of an “unacceptable risk” to the community and a “flavour of compulsion” in the allegations against him.
Andrew James Grant, 29, is facing a string of charges related to stalking, flashing and assaulting the women between January and February. The incidents prompted police to urge females to exercise in groups.
A Sydney court had previously heard that police were forced to move early and arrest Grant on March 6, before they could gather more evidence as they feared his alleged behaviour would become more violent.
It has previously been heard that Grant was charged and convicted in 2013 of four separate accounts of indecent act in a public place in Perth, WA.
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Today his lawyers AJ Karim and Joseph Nashed appeared at the NSW Supreme Court for a bail hearing.
Mr Karim said that Grant would be under effective house arrest and he would have limited access to the community under the proposed bail conditions.
He said that the current alleged offences and the matters in Western Australia did not escalate beyond lewd comments, indecent acts and exposure.
“What appears from those facts is the matters take place over a very short period of time and from the moment the victims remove themselves from the situation the matter comes to an end,” he told the court.
“There is no physical violence, there is no chasing, there are no threats.”
The court heard that Grant is expecting his first baby in June and his partner is now living with her mother.
It was proposed Grant would live with a friend, who was present in court, who was willing to put up $5000 in surety.
The court heard he would not live with the mother of his unborn child because of a lack of space and issues with his mother-in-law.
But Justice Richard Button said there was an “unacceptable risk” and refused bail.
He said he believed there was the potential for a further alleged “escalation” to be seen.
“To my mind … there is a very strong case the applicant committed a number of repetitive sexual offences,” he said.
“It’s true they are not offences of the utmost seriousness, but the simple fact is offences such as these do have the potential to cause profound psychological harm.
“There is an undoubted flavour of compulsion in the allegations.”