Ali Hindawy: Man accused of alleged Auburn assaults on bail
A man who allegedly appeared from bushes and grabbed a teen girl, putting one hand over her mouth and the other over her eyes, has faced court. The court heard he also allegedly targeted another schoolgirl before a magistrate released him on bail.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Police release images of man accused of alleged schoolgirl assaults
- Man dodges jail after secretly filming flatmate
A man who wheeled a push bike before allegedly assaulting two school girls has been released into the community.
Ali Hindawy, 18, from Auburn, fronted Burwood Local Court on Wednesday wearing a green hoodie and showed no emotion as he sat in the dock.
Hindawy is alleged to have been on his pushbike before he crossed a road and approached an 11-year-old girl on Elsham Road in Auburn on August 27.
Police allege he then came up from behind and allegedly put his hand around her neck and put her in a headlock.
In a separate incident, a 17-year-old girl was walking on Stanley Rd in Lidcombe when Hindawy allegedly came out of the bushes and approached her from behind.
He then allegedly placed one hand over her mouth and the other over her eyes, police allege.
On both occasions the girls managed to break free before alerting police.
After a police investigation and public appeal, detectives arrested Hindawy in Auburn on Tuesday where he was charged with two counts of common assault and two counts of stalking and intimidating.
In court, his lawyer made a bail application saying Hindawy suffered from mental health issues and was “medically incognitive.”
He told the court the bike was used for his “rehabilitation” and it had since been “taken away.”
His parents who supported him in court sat quietly as his lawyer said his mother was his full time carer and that Hindawy was on a disability pension.
Yet police prosecutor Kellie Chessor alleged his behaviour was “predatory.”
“It is only lucky the victims were able to scream and get help,” she told the court.
She further said his defence’s proposed conditions such as being under the full-time care of his mother and having a 10pm curfew would not minimise the risk on the community.
“He was under her care when this happened (…)” Ms Chessor told the court.
“The protection of the community has to be paramount.”
When his lawyer argued the offences were not premeditated saying the 18-year-old was “not capable,” the police prosecutor disagreed.
“The fact sheets said he was on the other side of the road and walked behind her and put his hands around her neck,” Ms Chessor said.
“He’s been stalking girls in school uniforms not on one but two occasions.”
Magistrate Susan Horan told the court the fact sheets were “concerning.”
“He placed one hand over her (the second girl’s) mouth and the other over her eyes,” she told the court.
“He was seen to be in the bushes,” she said.
Yet the magistrate granted his bail saying his age and mental health condition would make him “vulnerable in custody.”
“I’m granting bail. Basically he’s under house arrest,” she said.
Hindawy is to live with his parents at their Auburn home and not leave the house unless supervised by one of his parents.
He will return to court later this month.