Anthony Castelnuovo: Asquith hairdresser to appeal jail sentence for sexual misconduct

A hairdresser from Sydney’s upper north shore who was found guilty of his disturbing four decade-long sexual misconduct has learnt his fate in court.

Asquith hairdresser Anthony Castelnuovo.

He was known by his clients as Cass, but the life of an elderly hairdresser from Sydney’s upper north shore came tumbling down after his disturbing four decade-long sexual misconduct, with at least a dozen victims, finally came to a head.

It culminated with an act of indecency against a 15-year-old girl at a salon which a Sydney magistrate found was the “most serious” and crossed the threshold for jail.

Despite pleading his innocence at an almost two week hearing in December, 70-year-old Anthony Castelnuovo was found guilty of 16 counts of sexually touch another person without consent and four counts of indecent assault.

He was also found guilty of three counts of sexual assault with an act of indecency against a person under 16 and three counts of intentionally sexually touch child between 10 and 16.

Magistrate Brett Shields ultimately sentenced him to two years behind bars at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, however, a conviction and severity appeal was swiftly lodged by Castelnuovo’s legal team where he was granted bail, only hours after being taken away in handcuffs.

This publication previously revealed allegations against Castelnuovo included him touching several women’s breasts and buttocks over a number of years.

A police investigation was later established after reports a 15-year-old had allegedly been sexually touched by him at the salon.

During Mr Shields’ judgment, he made reference to more than 140 pages which outlined his decision.

Anthony Castelnuovo was a hairdresser at Vision Hair Team Asquith.

He accepted the defence and prosecution found most of the offending towards the low range for offences of this nature, however, he highlighted two outliers – one of which included the 15-year-old girl which he said “in my view [was] the most serious acts”.

After thinking “long and hard”, he found the matter had crossed the threshold for jail because she was “very young at the time”.

While acknowledging Castelnuovo was a person of good character “up to this point” and had reached an advanced stage, Mr Shields said what troubled him was his “view of the conduct”.

He said there was “still a flavour” and “some level of justification” by Castelnuovo referencing the conduct as “inadvertent or lack of understanding or [a] cultural difference”.

“Which I can’t accept,” Mr Shields said.

“I think sadly … you [are] obviously struggling to come to terms with this … I think in your mind you haven’t fully appreciated … how it came to be.”

Castelnuovo was convicted and placed on a three-year community correction order for almost every offence where he must complete 350 hours of community service.

For two charges of sexual assault with an act of indecency against a person under 16, he was jailed for two years and is eligible for parole on February 20 next year.

During Castelnuovo‘s bail application his barrister Kirk Dailly argued about his client’s medical needs, including specialist appointments over the next few months.

However, he said delays in the district court was the “biggest concern” given Castelnuovo could serve majority of his non-parole period before an appeal is even heard.

Despite Mr Shields granting bail, he was frank in his assessment of the appeal saying he doesn’t think it will “succeed”.

“He says all of these women are liars,” he said.