Son of a Baker former co-owner Mahir Gorge guilty of sex attack
The former co-owner of an Instagram-famous bakery has been jailed for a shocking sex attack on a teenager.
St George Shire Standard
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The former co-owner of an Instagram-famous Sydney cafe chain forced a teenage female employee to perform oral sex on him in his car until she was crying, breathless and bruised after a relentless campaign of sexual harassment at their workplace.
A jury found Son of a Baker’s former co-owner Mahir Gorge, 32, guilty of sexual intercourse without consent and indecent assault after he grabbed his 17-year-old employee by her head and forced her to perform manual and oral sex on him after he offered to drive her to the gym.
Gorge was emotionless as Judge Philip Ingram sentenced him at Darlinghurst Court to at least three years behind bars, while his wife collapsed in audible hysterics to the floor.
“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.”
The sickening assaults then occurred when the victim accepted a lift from Gorge to her gym nearby to avoid walking there on a wet and windy day.
Gorge drove her part of the way there before he pulled into a side street and sexually assaulted her.
“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?’”
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 offences were opportunistic and occurred once they were in the car and the victim would not acquiesce to his requests to fellate him,” Judge Ingram said.
“He forced her to fellate him by moving her head up and down on him.”
Judge Ingram said the victim’s statement, which was read out by her sister during the trial, “poignantly explained the profound and pervasive effect of the sexual offences committed on her”.
The court had previously heard Gorge was born in Egypt, had been married for seven years and owned several successful businesses before he opened Son of Baker in Sans Souci in 2018, followed by an outlet in Westfield Miranda and a factory in Botany.
He had previously been convicted of possessing child abuse imagery but the court heard the conviction was overturned when it was determined the image was not for Gorge’s sexual gratification, and was on his phone only because he found it “humorous”.
“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 received a maximum sentence of four years and six months, backdated to August 11 when he was taken into custody following the guilty verdict.
Do you know more about this story? Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or email eliza.barr@news.com.au.