Scone Thoroughbred star Hayden Topliss set to be charged with fresh counts of sexual assault
A court has heard an Upper Hunter rugby league player is set to face fresh charges of sexual assault. Here’s what we know.
Newcastle
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A court has heard a bush footy star, accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman in an alleged late night incident, is expected to be hit with fresh charges.
Hayden Charles Topliss, 35, from Scone was arrested in September, alongside Scone Thoroughbreds rugby league clubmate Ryan Hawkshaw, and both were charged with aggravated sexual assault in company.
The charges relate to an alleged incident in April last year 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.
Topliss fronted Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday as it was heard the 35-year-old would be facing three fresh new charges of sexual assault, which are set to be laid.
He also applied for a variation of his bail and asked magistrate Janine Lacy to reduce his three days of reporting each week.
His solicitor said Topliss wanted the reduction in days to work more and visit family in Queensland.
While the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) agreed to the change, Ms Lacy was hesitant to grant the request given the nature and seriousness of the charges and that he had links in Queensland and could be a possible flight risk.
“Doesn’t seem to be a compelling reason,” she said.
“Just for convenience.”
However, she ultimately did reduce the reporting days to just twice weekly.
Both Topliss and Hawkshaw will again front court next week. No pleas have yet to be made from either men.
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