Anne Nicholls, 65, of Fairlight: Hit with historic assault charge after sailing globe for 18 years

A woman, 65, has been hit with a serious historic assault charge – she denies knowing about – after returning to Sydney from sailing around the world for 18 years.

Anne Nicholls (right), 65, of Fairlight, outside Manly Local Court on Wednesday, with her husband, where she pleaded not guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to an alleged offence that dates back to April 2006. Picture: Manly Daily

It took police 18 years to catch up to a wanted Sydney woman for an alleged serious assault — because she had been sailing around the world on her yacht.

In 2006, Anne Nicholls, now 65 years old, allegedly assaulted a woman on the city’s northern beaches.

Ms Nicholls, who now lives at Fairlight, was charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm for the alleged Friday incident — on April 28, 2006 — at Newport.

In the days after the alleged offence, Manly Local Court issued a Bench Warrant for police to arrest Ms Nicholls because she allegedly failed to appear after being summoned to court.

But Manly Local Court heard on May 30, 2024, that Ms Nicholls was unaware that she was facing a charge.

Anne Nicholls, 65, of Fairlight, outside Manly Local Court on Wednesday, where she pleaded not guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to an alleged offence that dates back to April 2006. Picture: Manly Daily

Magistrate Margaret McGlynn was told that she had already left the country, setting sail on the round-the-world voyage with her husband, before the assault charge was laid.

During a bail application, the court was told that she was arrested after handing herself in at Manly police station on the morning of May 30.

Her solicitor, working with Legal Aid, said Ms Nicholls had recently returned to Australia and had been interstate when she was contacted by police “several weeks ago”.

“Ms Nicholls left the country in 2006 with her husband and was sailing around the world for 18 years,” the solicitor said.

Anne Nicholls, 65, of Fairlight, outside Manly Local Court on Wednesday, where she pleaded not guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Picture: Manly Daily

“She disagrees with the facts (of the alleged offence).

The police prosecutor, who did not oppose bail, told the court that “it was conceded the (alleged offence) occurred some time ago”.

“The victim’s whereabouts are unknown,” the prosecutor said.

Magistrate McGlynn granted Ms Nicholls conditional bail on May 30, including a condition that she continue to live at the address in Fairlight.

In court on Wednesday Ms Nicholls’ private solicitor, Philippa Grant, told the Registrar that her client was pleading not guilty to the charge.

The matter was adjourned for a hearing in Manly Local Court on December 9.

Bail was continued.