Nowra man charged with attacking sex workers who allegedly rejected pocket change payment for services

Police allege Leigh Boothman groped, choked and assaulted the two sex workers on three separate occasions when they refused to accept his offer to pay them less than $2 for their services.

Pictured is Nowra man Leigh Boothman. Picture: Facebook

A man allegedly launched violent attacks on two sex workers after they refused to accept his offered “payment” of 90 cents for their services , a court has heard.

Leigh Boothman, 43, is facing charges of recklessly inflicting actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse, intimidation, sexual touching without consent and common assault amid allegations arising from three separate incidents on different days at the same south coast brothel.

According to documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court, Boothman was previously known to the first alleged victim, so when he turned up unannounced at the south coast premises one day in April 2024, she let him inside.

She asked him how long he wanted and told him he had to give her the money upfront.

Boothman was arrested and charged in April 2024.

Nowra man Leigh Boothman. Picture: Facebook

It is alleged Boothman produced just a handful of coins, prompting the woman to tell him it wasn’t enough and ask him to leave.

He allegedly refused, grabbed her around the waist and thrust his hips and crotch towards her.

She allegedly yelled “don’t touch me, you don’t have money, get out”.

The court heard police will allege Boothman pushed the woman against the wall and squeezed her neck with his forearm, with the force allegedly enough to lift her off the ground.

Boothman is then accused of throwing the woman on the bed and scratching at her chest and breasts before standing in the doorway so she couldn’t escape.

“Who the f—k do you think you are, bitch,” he allegedly yelled.

“You should be paying me to f—k you.”

Leigh Boothman is accused of violently attacking three sex workers after they refused his offer to pay them between 90 cents and $1.60 for their services. Picture: Facebook

The court heard Boothman eventually left the property and the woman reported the incident to a friend, who contacted police.

It is alleged the second incident occurred a week later and involved another sex worker at the premises.

According to police, Boothman again turned up unannounced, produced only coins as payment and allegedly turned violent when the woman refused to provide him with sex services.

Just a few days later, Boothman allegedly returned to the premises and tried to hire a sex worker for a third time, this time producing just 90 cents as payment for a “full service”.

Boothman’s bail conditions requir him to live with his parents in Nowra. Picture: Facebook

When he was refused service, Boothman allegedly grabbed the woman’s vagina and breasts and scratched her on the face before eventually leaving.

The women reported the two incidents to police and Boothman was arrested later that night.

When spoken to by police, Boothman claimed he’d been bitten and scratched by the women.

“And why would they have done that?” the officer asked.

“Cause I wouldn’t pay them $150,” Boothman replied.

“And you keep turning up with $1.30,” the officer said.

Boothman, a diagnosed schizophrenic, was remanded in custody for almost a year before being released on bail by the Supreme Court last month.

As part of his bail, he must live in Nowra with his parents, who agreed to put up a $5,000 surety to ensure he complies with his bail conditions.

The case will return to court later this year, with Boothman yet to enter pleas to the charges.