Ryan Hawkshaw, Hayden Topliss charged with aggravated sexual assault of 19-year-old in Scone
Two Upper Hunter rugby league players have been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in an alleged late night incident. Here’s what we know.
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Two Upper Hunter rugby league players have been accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in an alleged late night incident.
Ryan Matthew Hawkshaw, 25, and Hayden Charles Topliss, 35, both from Scone, were arrested in September and charged with aggravated sexual assault in company.
The charges relate to an alleged incident between 10pm on April 22 last year and 1am the following morning at Scone where the pair are accused of having sexual intercourse with the 19-year-old woman without her consent.
Police allege Hawkshaw was having consensual sex with the teen and asked if his mate could join but, despite saying “no”, the two men allegedly forced her.
Topliss is also facing a charge of sexually touching another person without consent relating to an alleged incident days earlier at Scone on April 20 with the same woman.
In Newcastle Local Court this week, Hawkshaw appeared in person with his solicitor asking the court for a bail variation so he could go on football trips.
The court heard the 25-year-old carpenter was required to travel on some weekends with the local rugby league community.
But despite no opposition from the police prosecutor, Magistrate Caleb Franklin said he had concerns given the seriousness of the charge.
He asked if Hawkshaw could provide any evidence of the events he was required to attend, however his solicitor informed the court he could not. It resulted in the bail variation application being withdrawn.
Hawkshaw had his matter adjourned until January.
Topliss had his matters mentioned in a different court where they were adjourned until February. His bail was continued.
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