Taxi driver, 28, charged with sexually assaulting passengers fronts Southport court
A taxi driver who allegedly sexually assaulted several female passengers has fronted court for the first time to make a bid to travel overseas while on bail.
Police & Courts
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A taxi driver accused of sexually assaulting several passengers – with one allegedly jumping from a moving vehicle to escape – has fronted court for the first time.
The 28-year-old man – who cannot yet be identified – appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.
He was charged with three counts of sexual assault earlier this month.
It is alleged the Helensvale man sexually assaulted a female passenger twice after picking her up from a Broadbeach venue on June 24. Police claim the woman jumped from the moving taxi to escape.
The man allegedly sexually assaulted another woman while driving for a ride share company on November 6 last year.
He was granted police bail after being charged and was not required to appear in person at his first court mention last week.
Defence lawyer Stephanie Smith, of Brooke Winter Solicitors, made an application to vary several of the man’s bail conditions on Friday.
Ms Smith said the man wanted to report to police twice a week, rather than five times, and loosen his daily curfew so he could find nightfill work while his taxi and ride share licence was suspended.
She told the court a third proposed change – and the only one opposed by the prosecution – was that the man be temporarily allowed to leave Australia to visit his sick mother overseas.
“He is seeking the compassion of the court, Your Honour, to allow him to return for that short period of time to see his mother after a health episode last week, as they don’t know when he may otherwise be able to return back and see her,” Ms Smith said.
The court was told the man had already purchased return flights to show he was not leaving indefinitely and planned to return to Australia and face the charges.
Ms Smith said her client was also prepared to offer a $10,000 surety for his own return.
Magistrate Michelle Dooley refused to grant the man international travel, saying it would be extremely difficult to bring him back to Australia should he not return on his own.
The other two changes to his bail conditions were approved.
His case is due to return to court next month.
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