Man, 53, charged with sexually touching boy, 13, near Bateau Bay Square shopping centre
A man approached two boys near a busy shopping centre before allegedly indecently touching one of them. And now he’s on bail.
Central Coast
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A man with a lengthy criminal history allegedly approached two teenage boys near Bateau Bay Square before sexually touching one of them in a “random” attack, a court has heard.
A dishevelled Leslie Richard Scott appeared in Wyong Local Court on Monday after he was refused bail by police the day before.
Police allege about 2pm on Sunday, December 1, two boys — aged 15 and 13 — were walking along a popular path through bushland near the shopping centre when the 53-year-old man approached them.
Charge sheets tendered in court allege the man touched the younger boy inappropriately before the teenager ran away and notified family members.
The boy’s father attended the scene and detained the man until police arrived.
Tuggerah Lakes Police District attended and arrested Scott, before he was taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with intentionally sexually touch a child and refused bail.
In court his Legal Aid solicitor Rachael Dobson applied for bail, arguing strict conditions — including that he stay away from the shopping centre — could mitigate any potential risks.
However the police prosecutor opposed bail, stating Scott had breached community corrections orders in the past and the sheer “randomness” of the alleged assault could put other boys at risk.
A police bail determination, tendered with the court file, stated that the prosecution’s case was strong, they had two witnesses, that Scott was detained until police arrived and there could be “trace evidence”.
“The accused has a long criminal history dating back to the early 90s,” the bail determination read.
“The accused’s history relates to traffic related offences, theft, violence and sexual offences.”
In the end Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis said “it was a close run thing” but granted bail on strict conditions including that he report daily to police, not enter Bateau Bay Square and agree to forfeit $500.
Ms Ellis said she considered including a condition that he not approach and child under 16 but it could be “very problematic to police”.
He was adjourned to December 17.