Michael Carver Evans from Old Bar back in Taree court after breaching bail

Only a few hours after his recent court appearance, an alleged Mid-North Coast beach predator on ‘house arrest’ bail wound up back in custody. See his excuse here.

Taree Police Station.

Just hours after his recent court appearance an alleged beach predator on house arrest, landed back in custody with the magistrate telling the court the “disturbing elements of the facts” do not “correlate” with the charges the 68-year-old is facing.

Old Bar man Michael Carver Evans, accused of “predatory behaviour” towards young women at the beach, had been placed under house arrest earlier this week after breaching his bail for the second time in just under a month.

But just hours after his recent court appearance on Wednesday he was seen out and about at a mechanic and taken back into custody and appeared via audio visual link from the Taree holding cells before Magistrate Allison Hawkins on Thursday afternoon.

His lawyer told the court Evans was confused about the 24-hour curfew - thinking it was a “twelve to twelve” arrangement.

Ms Hawkins repeated her request from earlier in the week that an adult be nominated to be responsible for Evans while he is on bail and to accompany him to the shops or to access other essential services.

Michael Carver Evans from Old Bar is under 'house arrest' after breaching his bail twice.

The matter was adjourned for a few hours to allow Evans’ lawyer to speak with him and get the number of a person who could take on that responsibility.

Several hours later his lawyer told the court that the person nominated by Evans for the task had declined.

Despite this Ms Hawkins said she was willing to give him “the benefit of the doubt with this breach” and continued his bail with a clear direction to be in the company of an adult whenever he leaves his house, and not to go near any swimming places like “the lagoon or the beach”.

“I don’t want Mr Evans to feel like he can go down to the beach - that is certainly out of the question.”

The warnings echoed her clear directions from earlier in the week when she first placed him on what she described as a “house arrest condition”.

“You will be stuck at home.”

She warned him: “If you can’t stay away from young people in swimming areas, as clearly ordered by the court, you are sending a message to the court that you want to be locked up.”

The 68-year-old retired Telstra technician was placed on house arrest after breaching his bail for the second time in less than a month due to what the police prosecutor told the court was “predatory behaviour” towards young people at the beach over the weekend.

Old Bar Beach lifesavers on duty. Picture: Facebook.

But he hasn’t been charged with any offences arising from that conduct.

Ms Hawkins touched on this during Evans’ court appearance on Thursday when she considered whether or not to continue his bail.

“Despite the disturbing elements of the (alleged) facts - and they are disturbing - he has not been charged with offences that correlate with that.”

The court heard Evans was on bail for two sets of offences and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He has been charged with destroy/damage property (a police vehicle) and hinder/resist a police officer in the execution of their duty with the offences alleged to have occurred on January 15.

Evans was granted bail following the alleged incident with the police but this was revoked on January 29 following an alleged incident two days prior.

On January 27 between 1.30pm and 1.48pm he is alleged to have assaulted and used intimidation/violence against a lifeguard on duty at Old Bar beach.

Evans was charged with common assault and use intimidation/violence to unlawfully influence a person.

His bail was continued following the alleged January 27 incident involving the lifeguard at Old Bar beach and the alleged incident last weekend was the second breach of his bail.

The matter has been adjourned to March 22.