Michael Touzell allegedly touched boys’ bottoms, demanded kiss on cheek at southwest Sydney cafe

A southwest Sydney man allegedly touched two teenagers on their bottoms and told one of them to “give me a peck on the cheek” while working as a barista at a popular cafe.

Michael Phillip Touzell, who has pleaded not guilty.

An Austral man allegedly touched two teenagers on their bottoms and told one of them to “give me a peck on the cheek” while working as a barista at a popular southwest Sydney cafe, a court has heard.

Michael Phillip Touzell, 28, faced Bankstown Local Court on Monday after previously pleading not guilty to four counts each of intentionally sexually touching a child under 16 and common assault.

The alleged incidents occurred while Touzell was a part-time barista at the cafe between March and May last year.

Prosecutor Brendan Donnelly told the court Touzell had allegedly “slapped” the bottom of a 15-year-old boy and leaned over to “meow” in his ear.

Giving evidence on Monday, the teenager told the court Touzell had touched his backside twice and also grabbed his chest area.

Michael Philip Touzell, who faced Bankstown Local Court on Monday. Picture: Canterbury-Bankstown Express

He said he pushed Touzell’s hand away from him and also claimed the 28-year-old made inappropriate comments.

“I remember I asked him for a coffee and he told me to give him a peck on the cheek,” the teen told the court.

In a complaint made to police in June, the boy said Touzell’s alleged actions made him feel “creeped out” and “disgusted”.

However, during cross-examination, defence barrister Wali Shukoor noted most of the alleged touching had not occurred in view of a cafe CCTV camera.

Mr Shukoor also questioned the credibility of the teenager’s memory given the alleged incidents occurred almost two years ago, with the boy unable to recall specific dates, details or orders of events.

CCTV footage, recorded at the time of the alleged inappropriate comment and played in court on Monday, shows Touzell making a coffee which the boy then takes and later drinks.

“You told police you asked another employee to make you a coffee because you felt uncomfortable,” Mr Shukoor said.

“You told police one thing, that you rejected a coffee made by him, but you just drank a coffee made by him.”

Mr Shukoor added that CCTV showed the boy holding items in both his hands at the time he claimed Touzell grabbed his chest.

It also showed Touzell pick up a full garbage bag just moments before the alleged grabbing before walking out of frame.

The boy told the court he couldn’t recall Touzell holding a bag, nor at which point he picked up an item.

But when asked whether it was possible Touzell touched him “by accident”, the boy replied “no”.

Bankstown Local Court.

Touzell is also accused of making similar comments to another 15-year-old boy during that time, allegedly telling that child he would “give him a kiss”.

“I was very young, I’m still pretty young. I’m underage,” the second boy told the court on Monday.

“(At the time) it went over my head .I was a bit confused and shocked. I just gave him a blank face.

“The next vivid one I remember … (he) walked past me and he stroked my arse.”

The second boy said he exclaimed “what?” at the sudden touch, to which Touzell turned around and allegedly “smirked” at him.

Mr Shukoor said this boy made no reference to an exclamation or any suggestive facial expressions in either of his two police reports.

“Is it possible that you have added those details as time has gone past? Details that are not true?” Mr Shukoor asked in court.

The boy told the court he had failed to provide those details to police at the time due to a “lack of interpretation” of their importance and he had since added them “with reason”.

The hearing continues on Tuesday.