Bryce Grainger: Mortdale man accused of touching child at Central Station has charge dropped

An elderly man accused of sexually touching a child in a Central train station toilet has had a serious charge dropped - but has been hit with fresh charges.

The alleged incident happened at Sydney’s Central Station. Picture: Julian Andrews

A 76-year-old south Sydney man who police allege sexually assaulted a “cognitively impaired” 15-year-old boy in a Central Station toilet block has had the most serious charge dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions, although fresh charges were laid.

Bryce Grainger, of Mortdale, was arrested at his home in April 2022 after police alleged he took a teenage boy into one of the concourse toilet blocks and sexually assaulted him,

The teenager, a court previously heard, has a “significant cognitive impairment”.

At Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court a charge of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years jail, was withdrawn by the DPP.

Following his first court appearance, Grainger was hit with additional charges including two counts of sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old, intentional sexual touching of a child, andof intentionally doing a sexual act with a child.

He is also facing a charge of intentional sexual touching of a child, which was laid following his arrest.

Bryce Grainger pictured in CCTV footage at Central Station. Picture: NSW Police

Five charges were certified by the prosecution on Thursday. Grainger is on bail and is yet to enter pleas.

The same court previously heard that police alleged Grainger “paced around” the Country Concourse of the station – near the intercity platforms – for half an hour before the alleged victim entered the site.

When Grainger was granted bail in July 2022 his solicitor Slade Howell told the court how none of the alleged offences involved violence, although conceded there was “a bit of nudging” in the toilet cubicle.

The alleged incident happened in a toilet block near the intercity and interstate Central platforms. Picture: Damian Shaw

He told the court his client had been diagnosed with dementia and there was evidence he was “thought-disordered” at the time of the “pretty unusual” circumstances.

“He’s (a) man walking around with a major neurocognitive disorder,” Mr Howell said. “That is a major contributing factor to what’s happened.”

Grainger’s strict bail conditions include not to leave his Mortdale home unless for attending medical appointments, in the company of select people.

It includes provisions for Grainger, however, to attend overnight sleep studies, although he must notify the police when doing so.

He cannot enter any train station in NSW, as part of his bail.

There is also a provisional AVO on Grainger for the protection of the alleged victim.

Grainger will next appear at Downing in late July where pleas are anticipated to be entered to the charges.

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