Jack Maher pleads guilty to assaulting blind man on train at Seven Hills
A man who sexually touched a teenager, assaulted a blind man, kicked his dog and threatened to murder and rape police told a court he snapped after his “missus” suffered another miscarriage.
Parramatta
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A man accused of going on a crime spree that involved sexually touching a teenage girl at Parramatta train station before assaulting a 61-year-old blind man, kicking his guide dog and threatening to rape and kill police told a court his head “wasn’t right” after his partner suffered a second miscarriage.
At Parramatta Local Court on Friday, 24-year-old Jack Maher — who was on parole — pleaded guilty to five charges after a string of offences on Thursday, and his bail was refused during an expletive-riddled hearing.
The Port Macquarie man initially pleaded not guilty to sexually touching the 18-year-old woman at Parramatta train station about 1.45pm but entered a guilty plea.
Maher allegedly asked the woman if she had a boyfriend before touching her on the inner thigh and legs and following her on the train to Westmead station, where she departed and reported the incident.
Court documents state while the train was at Seven Hills, Maher accused blind man David Gearin of being an undercover cop and his labrador, Odin, of being a drug detection dog.
He told the Mr Gearin “you deserve my germs, you low-life dog’’ before spitting on him, punching him in the head several times and kicking his animal companion when they sat in the designated disabled space.
An off-duty train guard stepped in to assist as the train pulled into Blacktown train station where the victim departed.
Blacktown police and Police Transport Command officers arrested Maher at the bus interchange where he allegedly spat on a policeman’s face before making verbal threats.
During his arrest, police fact sheet tendered to the court said Maher told police: “I swear you’re going to die, I am going to rape you … and stick my dick in your arse, you c***’’
Maher exposed himself to police while in custody at Blacktown police station and accused them of sexually assaulting him.
The papers state the accused, who has an extensive criminal history showed no remorse and continually made threats towards police and their families.
“The accused states ‘suck my dick’,’’ the papers said.
“Tell the judge he can suck my dick cause I’ll be out on the street soon. Two years is nothing. When I’m out you will be murdered.’’
At court today, Maher told Magistrate Kevin Hockey “to be honest, I don’t know what charges there is’’.
“It’s all good. To be honest, straight out, the police even said to me, they laughed at me, laughed in my face.’’
When Magistrate Hockey read the charges to Maher, he said “I can’t remember anything’’ but pleaded guilty to sexual touching, common assault, commit act of cruelty to an animal, assault police and intimidation of a police officer.
“I’ve been out for six months time, f***, I’m trying to be clean. My missus had a miscarriage … I’ve been good but I had one drink of alcohol and here again. My head’s not right at the moment … paranoia, people have been bothering me, voices in my head for years now.’’
Maher, who did not have legal representation, applied for bail and said he could live with his partner at Port Macquarie and “I can assure you, your Honour, I will not stuff this up,
“I can assure you I will not let you down. I will report every day to the police station. When my missus had the second miscarriage, it stuffed me up.
“I’ll go to the hospital to get further help because I know my head’s not right at the moment.’’
However, Magistrate Hockey told Maher he posed a risk to the community and refused bail.
He adjourned the matter for sentencing to June 12 and ordered a psychiatric assessment for Maher.
Victim David Gearin said it was the first train trip he had taken since the coronavirus outbreak.
“This was mid afternoon on a weekday when you wouldn’t expect something like that,’’ he said.
“It’s of concern to vulnerable people.”
Mr Gearin said he had a sleepless night and would take Odin to the vet tomorrow but was recovering well.
“It’s just very sad that somebody’s life got to this stage,’’ he said of his attacker.
“I just hope that he can get some help.’’