Solicitor Oska Purcell charged with violence offences again

An eastern suburbs solicitor granted bail on choking and sexual assault allegations was charged again with choking a different woman before he could even be released from police custody.

A junior solicitor from Bondi has been denied bail after he was charged over allegations of violence towards women twice in two days.

A junior solicitor granted bail on a chilling raft of choking and rape allegations was charged again with choking a different woman before he even had an opportunity to leave police cells.

Police were left stunned on Monday after commercial litigation solicitor Oska Purcell was granted bail at Waverley Local Court on 11 violent and sexual charges.

But before Purcell could even walk out of his cell at Waverley police station, officers had charged him again over allegations brought by a second woman and denied his bail.

The 25-year-old Cranbrook School graduate has now been charged with assault, attempted intimidation, and choking a woman after a bizarre incident in which he allegedly attempted to dine and dash at a Sydney restaurant.

At Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge denied bail after expressing concerns psychological treatment had not “softened” his behaviour towards women.

The magistrate said police would allege Purcell had pushed a woman into a pillar where she hit her head, and then headbutted her after she quietly paid for their food at a venue as he attempted to leave without paying.

Eastern suburbs junior solicitor Oska Purcell.

“It goes onto even more concerning allegations, his physical interaction with the complainant,” Ms Milledge said.

The magistrate noted it is the fourth time Purcell has been charged with offences against women – with two matters in 2019 and 2022 dismissed on mental health grounds.

“He continues with the same kind of behaviour with other women,” Ms Milledge said.

“This causes a grave concern – if it’s not brought into check, it could escalate into something worse than we’ve seen.”

On Tuesday, Purcell’s solicitor Matthew Cameron argued strict bail conditions akin to house arrest which were imposed on Monday could mitigate any risk he posed.

Mr Cameron highlighted Purcell was in psychological treatment and could report to police, abide by a curfew and not leave home without supervision except to work and attend court.

“The fact he’s under care does not give the court any confidence he would be compelled in a different direction, because that’s been ongoing,” Ms Milledge said.

“He’s been in psychological care since 2022 – on the face of it, that hasn’t resulted in any softening of his behaviour towards women.”

Purcell was denied bail at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.

Police prosecutor Andrew Maldigri had told the court the new complainant had provided a “strikingly similar” version to the complainants in Monday’s matter and those dismissed on mental health grounds.

“These are examples of very serious offences against women, which are a scourge upon the community,” Sgt Maldigri said.

“Despite having previous allegations against him in relation to his conduct towards women, that did not prevent him from (allegedly) committing further offences against women.”

Purcell indicated he would defend the charges in Tuesday’s matter.

On Monday his solicitor said he would also defend two charges of choking, three of sexual intercourse without consent, sexual touching, performing a sex act without consent, threatening to distribute an intimate image, two of using a carriage service to harass, and assault.

After Purcell’s first bail application, a spokesman for his employer Pryor, Tzannes and Wallis Law said he had been temporarily “stood down effective immediately”.