Mahir Gorge: Ex Son of a Baker co-owner to appeal sentence

His sickening sex attack on a teen worker shocked the community. But now the former Son of a Baker co-owner has brought the case back before the courts.

A disgraced Sydney businessman jailed for sexually assaulting his teenage female employee in his car will attempt to have the sentence for his vile crimes reduced.

Former cafe co-owner Mahir Gorge, 34, was convicted of sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault after a District Court jury found he forced a 17-year-old girl to perform manual and oral sex on him.

He was sentenced to at least three years behind bars by Judge Philip Ingram in November 2019.

“Over weeks prior the accused had made a number of unwelcome sexual remarks, and showed the victim images of penises, as well as other unwanted physical contact such as getting her to feel his chest muscles and saying it was his turn to do it to her,” Judge Ingram said.

“She made it clear she thought it was inappropriate.”

Mahir Gorge.

Gorge has now made an appeal against the sentence’s severity in the Court of Criminal Appeal and the three presiding officers have reserved their judgment in the matter indefinitely.

The teen worked for Gorge when he was the co-owner of Instagram-famous Sydney cafe Son of a Baker, which was then located in Sans Souci.

Gorge’s opportunistic attack occurred when the victim accepted a lift from him to avoid walking from work to the gym in wet and windy weather.

“He exhorted the victim to fellate him, and again she refused,” Judge Ingram said.

“He then put the seat back, unzipped his pants and exposed his penis, then put the victim’s hand on his penis and forced her to rub it up and down until it was erect.”

Gorge then forced the victim’s head down and made her perform oral sex while he touched her breasts and her buttocks.

“She was out of breath, and had tears in her eyes,” Judge Ingram said.

“He said, ‘I’m going to sleep like a baby tonight’.”

“He continued: ‘Don’t tell a soul – did you like that?’”

Former co-owner of Sydney cafe Son of a Baker Mahir Gorge.

When the victim finally arrived at the gym and looked in the mirror, she realised her lip was bruised from where Gorge had forced her mouth onto him.

The court heard Gorge had previously been convicted of possessing child abuse images but the conviction was overturned when it was determined Gorge merely found the image “humorous” and it was not for sexual gratification.

“He enjoys the support of his family and friends who still hold him in high regard and say the offences are entirely out of character,” Judge Ingram said.

“He had been a paragon of his family, his church and the business community.”

Gorge originally received a maximum sentence of four years and six months and remains behind bars while the Court of Criminal Appeal ponders their judgment.