Mark Edward Attalla, 35, of Manly, allegedly sexually touched woman on Warringah Mall escalator

A man asked a woman he didn’t know on a date, just seconds after he allegedly sexually touched her on an escalator at a bustling Sydney shopping mall.

Mark Edward Attalla outside Manly Court House in May 2021. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

A man allegedly grabbed a woman, he did not know, on her bottom as they rode an escalator at the bustling Warringah Mall shopping centre on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Then seconds later, Mark Edward Attalla, 35, of Manly, asked the shocked woman out on a date.

The alleged victim told police that Mr Attalla asked her “what are you doing tonight?”, according to documents tendered in Manly Local Court on Thursday.

“Can I take you out?” he then asked.

The alleged victim, who was still on the escalator near the Woolworths supermarket, replied: “Absolutely not”.

Mr Attalla then ran from the Mall while he was being questioned by its security staff.

Warringah Mall, where a woman was alleged sexually touched on the bottom while using an escalator. Picture: Manly Daily

The accused, who is in custody, appeared in court via video link to face a string of serious charges including one count each of sexually touch another person without consent; stalk/intimidate cause fear of physical or mental harm and; common assault over the alleged escalator assault on December 1 last year.

He is also charged with a second stalk/intimidate charge for allegedly harassing a female retail worker in Manly on October 25 last year.

In documents tendered to court police alleged that Mr Attalla stood outside a shop and repeatedly put his hand down the front of his pants, pulled it out again and then walked around a corner, before returning to commit the same actions, multiple times.

He then entered the shop and allegedly asked the 24-year-old women to perform a sex act on him.

Mark Attalla will be back before Manly Local Court on March 20. (AAP IMAGE / MONIQUE HARMER)

The woman asked for help from passers-by. Two people stood between Mr Attalla and the women, before he left the premises.

Police also charged him with a third stalk/intimidate charge over an unrelated alleged incident that occurred at 9.30am at Balgowlah on October 23.

Mr Attalla is also charged with another count of common assault after he allegedly hit a driver on the free community “Hop, Skip & Jump” shuttle bus service on October 26.

Police will allege that the accused had been verbally abusing an elderly male passenger who was standing in the bus passageway when Mr Attalla got on the bus in Manly.

As Mr Attalla got off the bus, near the intersection of Sydney Rd and Condamine St, Balgowlah, he allegedly struck the 61-year-old bus driver in the back of the head with a green bag.

A driver with the free Hop, Skip and Jump shuttle bus service, operated by Northern Beaches Council, was allegedly assaulted by he accused. File picture: Jim O'Rourke

He is also facing three shoplifting charges, including allegedly running out of the Woolworths supermarket at Balgowlah without paying for a Nokia mobile phone.

His Legal Aid lawyer told Magistrate Michelle Goodwin, that Mr Attalla has a longstanding psychiatric illness and had been assessed by mental health professionals at the hospital attached to Long Bay jail.

Mr Attalla is yet to enter any pleas.

His matters will be back in Manly court on March 20.