Joshua O’Neill charged with sexually touching paramedic at Doonside
A man who allegedly sexually touched and spat on a female paramedic, and threatened to slit frontline workers’ throats inside an ambulance, has been granted bail.
Blacktown
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A Doonside man who allegedly sexually touched a female paramedic and spat on her face in an ambulance on his way to hospital last month has been granted bail.
Joshua O’Neill, 31, was charged on Monday, more than a week after he allegedly threatened and sexually touched the frontline worker while inside the ambulance and threatened to slit the throats of officers on Saturday March 30 when he was being taken to Nepean Hospital.
North West Operation Support Group officers began an investigation after the alleged incident and arrested O’Neill at his home at Melkarth Place, Doonside, on Monday about 1.15pm.
He was charged with sexually touching another person without consent, assaulting a frontline emergency worker -no actual bodily harm and intimidating a frontline emergency worker – no actual bodily harm caused.
Police allege in court documents O’Neill moved his hand up the inner thigh of the paramedic and touched her genital area, which was clothed, between 8.40pm and 9pm.
He also spat on her face and eyebrow, and threatened to slit the throats of ambulance officers.
On Tuesday, his Legal Aid solicitor told Blacktown Court her client had schizophrenia, ADHD and bipolar disorder for which he was being treated with Justice Health.
The police prosecutor opposed bail, citing concerns O’Neill would commit serious offences, a failure to attend court and endangering the community.
Magistrate Debra Maher said “this is a man who has not done well with his supervision” after being on the community correction orders in February and July.
“He’s not doing anything with his supervision, he’s still continuing with drugs and alcohol,’’ Ms Maher said.
Under his bail conditions, O’Neill must report to Blacktown police station on Monday and Thursday and attend an appointment with Justice Health.
Ms Maher said he must enter a plea at his next court date of April 29.
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