Brett Michael Pearce from Forster faces Taree court accused of indecently assaulting six-year-old girl

There has been further delays in the case of a Mid-North Coast man, previously jailed for similar offending, on fresh allegations he indecently assaulted a six-year-old girl. Here’s what we know.

Taree courthouse

There has been further delays in the case of a Forster man, previously jailed for similar offending, on fresh allegations he indecently assaulted a six-year-old girl.

Brett Michael Pearce, 53, faced Taree Local Court last week charged with three counts of indecently assaulting a person under 16.

Magistrate Sharon Crews expressed concern over delays in the case.

She asked Pearce to come forward and he told the court his previous lawyer Shelley Watts was no longer representing him.

Pearce said he was trying to secure support from Legal Aid NSW as he fights new charges.

Ms Crews told the court she needed to find two days in the packed court diary for a hearing to deal with the matter.

“We have a (alleged) child victim speaking of an incident about six years ago. This is a waiting game and it’s not good,” she said

Brett Michael Pearce is charged with three counts of indecently assaulting a girl aged between six and seven.

It’s alleged offending happened between May 5, 2016 and May 3, 2017 and involved the same alleged victim, aged between six and seven at the time. Pearce has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

When the case came before Taree Magistrate Brian van Zuylen on January 22, he told the court Pearce had a previous conviction for similar offending and he had served six months in prison in 2017.

Mr van Zuylen told the court the new allegations were very serious and carried a maximum of 10 years prison if Pearce was found or plead guilty.

Pearce was arrested and charged at Forster Police Station in August 2022 and he has been currently on bail, reporting to the same station.

His defence lawyer at the time, Matthew Giles, also said during the January appearance that an expert report ruled Pearce unfit to stand trial.

But a lawyer representing the Director of Public Prosecutions said another report deemed he was fit.

A two-day trial has been scheduled for September 25-26.