Council manager Mark James and son Matthew James charged with indecent assault
A young man and his father have been accused of grabbing a random teenager’s breasts in a Sydney street after a messy night where they were allegedly kicked out of a local pub. The older man was a senior manager at a Sydney council.
A young man and his father have been accused of grabbing a random teenager’s breasts in a Sydney street after a messy night where they were allegedly kicked out of a local pub for being too drunk, a court has heard.
Matthew James, 20, and his father Mark James, who is a senior manager at Georges River Council, have been charged with indecent assault, sexual touching and assault causing actual bodily harm after the alleged incident in which the two men allegedly grabbed the 19-year-old woman’s breasts and soon after assaulted attending police officers on a Rockdale street.
Mark James spent a brief period behind bars in December before he was released on strict conditional bail, but his son has been in custody since the incident on December 1 last year.
Magistrate Michael Connell refused Matthew James’ first application for bail at Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday ahead of a hearing in May.
“These are very serious allegations of assault against a seemingly vulnerable female,” Mr Connell told the court.
“The sexual assault offence … allegedly occurred when a female was walking on the streets at about 1am on December 1.”
In his bail application Matthew James’ solicitor Garry Jauncey told the court his client had recently been moved to a different prison after he was allegedly assaulted on a number of occasions.
The young man, who the court heard is on the autism spectrum, was also recently accepted as a client by the National Disability Insurance Scheme due to his mental health issues.
“He is vulnerable,” Mr Jauncey said.
“He has always had the support of his family in the community.”
Mr Connell acknowledged Matthew James’ mental health issues but said the circumstances did not justify his release.
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“The accused was on bail at the time, with a number of matters dealt with in the meantime at Burwood Local Court, where orders of supervision in the community were given,” Mr Connell told the court.
“He is also charged with aggravated break and enter in company, which has been adjourned to Parramatta District Court for June 25.
“The prosecution accepts his mental health issues and it is said he has been assaulted and is in danger — but in relation to the facts of the matter, the allegations are indeed serious.”
The father and son will return to court for a hearing next month.
At court Mark James abandoned an application to vary his bail conditions so he could live with his son if Matthew had been released on Wednesday.
Georges River Council has been contacted for comment.
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