Elderly Gloucester man allegedly breached child protection order

A 64-year-old, with a history that “clearly does not assist him”, was back before court alleged to have breached a child protection order at a Mid-North Coast swimming pool.

The man appeared at Forster Court House.

A 64-year-old man, with a history his lawyer admits “clearly does not assist him”, was back before court alleged to have breached a restriction at a Mid-North Coast swimming pool.

The alleged offending took place at the Gloucester swimming pool between 4.20pm and 5pm on Wednesday, December 14.

The man, who lives in the Gloucester region, was arrested and taken to Taree Police Station and charged with contravening a prohibition in an order and was remanded in custody overnight.

According to documents tendered to court, he is the subject of a child protection prohibition order.

Gloucester is a picturesque town about 50km southwest of Taree in the MidCoast Council area, nestled under the range of hills known as The Bucketts.

Gloucester swimming pool. Picture: Facebook.

The 64-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared via audiolink before Magistrate Allison Hawkins at Forster Local Court on Thursday.

His lawyer Brooke Drinkwater told the court she knew the Gloucester pool very well and questioned police estimates as to how close the man came to children at the pool.

She said his history “clearly does not assist him” but that a previous matter from 2018 was more serious than this alleged offending.

The police prosecutor argued he should not be released on bail and told the court he had been deceptive with police who investigated the matter.

Ms Drinkwater argued he should be released on bail and that due to his age and medical conditions – including tachycardia and bladder and kidney issues – he would be “vulnerable in a custodial setting”.

Ms Hawkins granted him bail on the condition he only goes to the township of Gloucester to buy groceries from Woolworths, to put petrol in his car, go to the pharmacy for medication and to the post office to pick up deliveries of the specialist medical equipment he needs.

“Bail is a serious matter for you – if police see you out and about in town they have the right to question you,” she said.

He replied: “yes ma’am”.

The matter was adjourned for the next available date at Gloucester Local Court on February 15 where he is expected to enter a plea.