Archie Anastasopoulos allegedly put hands down woman’s pants and masturbated behind another in Bondi

A man accused of sexually harassing three women in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including allegedly putting his hands down a tourist’s pants and masturbating behind another has applied for bail.

Downing Centre Local Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

A man accused of sexually harassing three women in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including allegedly putting his hands down a tourist’s pants and masturbating behind another, has been refused bail.

Archie Anastasopoulos, 35, appeared via video link at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday after he was charged with attempted sexual intercourse without consent, two counts of sexually touch another person without consent, carry out sexual act with another without consent, wilful and obscene exposure in/near public place/school, two counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm and common assault.

Court documents reveal Anastasopoulos’ alleged offending took place on March 9, 10 and 17 and involve three separate complainants.

He was arrested at a traffic stop on Doncaster Ave, Kensington about 4.30pm on March 18.

On Thursday, the Crown prosecutor opposed bail due to Anastasopoulos potentially “committing further offences”, endangering the complainants and community and failing to appear.

Downing Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The prosecutor detailed the alleged facts, saying all three complainants alighted from a bus with Anastasopoulos following them.

On one occasion, he was allegedly seen on CCTV masturbating and pinching one complainant on the buttocks where they have “seen him holding his penis”.

The prosecutor said another complainant had to walk in the middle of the road to get away from him.

He said Anastasopoulos allegedly said to the third complainant “let’s have sex” twice and grabbed her buttocks, shoulders and breasts.

The prosecutor said the offences were “predatory and brazen in nature”, it was a strong prosecution case “which is supported by high definition CCTV footage” and it was inevitable he would receive a custodial sentence if convicted.

Anastasopoulos’ lawyer Louis Angelovski said the allegations related to a “short space of time” and in the early hours of the morning.

He said his client had no significant criminal history and had spent almost six months in jail.

Mr Angelovski said the “real issue” was the extent of the complaints, saying his client denied placing his hands near the crotch of the third complainant with DNA found on the chest area of the woman, but Anastasopoulos “was excluded as a major contributor” on samples from her underwear.

He told the court he wasn’t suggesting the matters were not serious, but said his client living with his parents at Croydon Park, reporting daily to police, obeying a curfew from 6pm to 6am and a $5000 surety could mitigate bail concerns.

While pleas have not been entered, he told the court the matter “will be defended” and there was a problem if Anastasopoulos was bail refused his time in custody could exceed a custodial sentence if convicted.

Ultimately, Magistrate Gregory Moore said each alleged offence had similarities, with the most serious offence committed on the third complainant – a young Spanish tourist.

He said the complainant told him she was from Spain and he allegedly replied “wow Spain, you are so beautiful” and “let’s have sex” before later putting his “hands inside her shorts” and “touching outside of her underwear”.

While acknowledging his limited criminal record, Mr Moore said it was a strong prosecution case and found the proposed conditions could not mitigate bail concerns.

The matter will return to the same court for charge certification on September 21.