Dylan Swanson: 18-year-old allegedly grabbed woman, covered her mouth in attempt to forcibly have sex with her
A teenager who handed himself in to police after he allegedly grabbed a woman from behind in a sexual attack has applied for bail.
Police & Courts
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A teenager who allegedly followed a woman off a bus and grabbed her from behind in a “premeditated” sexual attack will remain behind bars on remand.
Dylan Swanson, who only turned 18 last month, was visibly emotional as he appeared via video link at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday.
Swanson, who was arrested after handing himself in to police, is yet to enter pleas to charges of taking a person with intent to commit a serious indictable offence, inflicting actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse, and carrying out a sexual act with another without consent.
Police say a 36-year-old woman, who had caught a bus to Neutral Bay after finishing work about 3.30am on Thursday, was walking down Wycombe Rd when she was grabbed from behind by a man who covered her mouth, interfered with her clothing and pushed her against a nearby garage door.
Police will allege the man pinned her against the door before removing his pants.
The woman was able to kick and bite the man before he fled on foot towards Military Rd.
Police say she sustained a laceration to her elbow but did not require medical treatment.
After police released CCTV images from the bus, Swanson was arrested at Manly Police Station.
On Sunday, police prosecutor Kyle Carlson opposed bail.
He said Swanson had been charged with “some very serious offences”, one of which carried a maximum penalty of 14 years behind bars.
Mr Carlson said there was a “strong likelihood” Swanson would receive a custodial sentence if convicted and the evidence against him was “compelling” given there was CCTV footage “capturing the (alleged) offending”.
He said that evidence was coupled with the “defendant’s own admission” to being on the bus, from which he allegedly followed the woman.
Swanson then allegedly attacked the stranger in a “premeditated” incident Mr Carlson described as causing physical and likely psychological harm.
Mr Carlson added that the alleged offending was a significant breach of the woman’s safety while she was travelling home from work.
Swanson’s lawyer, Jessica Su, conceded the alleged offences were serious but argued strict bail conditions, including restrictions on Swanson’s movements and a $5000 surety from his father, could mitigate against risks.
While Ms Su also conceded the prosecution case was strong, she told the court her client had a clean record and face “quite onerous” conditions in custody because of his age.
Magistrate Annette Christine Sinclair accepted the case against Swanson seemed strong and the facts of the alleged offending were “extremely serious”.
While acknowledging he had strong community ties, along with having a job lined up working in the cellar at the Hotel Steyne in Manly, Ms Sinclair found Swanson was a danger to the woman and the community.
He was ultimately refused bail, with the matter adjourned to May 15 at the Downing Centre Local Court.
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