Accused Frankston schoolgirl stalker allegedly followed children in 2017, court hears
The man accused of stalking a teenager in Frankston North, close to where Natalie Russell was murdered in 1993, is alleged to have followed schoolchildren in similar incidents in 2017. And police allege ropes found in his van may have had a sinister purpose.
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A Frankston North man accused of stalking a young girl as she walked to school allegedly has a history of following children in the area, a court has heard.
A petrified 17-year-old was allegedly forced to sprint down a Frankston North street on her way to Monterey Secondary College on February 27 after Richard Ng, 38, allegedly followed her in his white van before walking towards her and asking her if she wanted a lift.
Frankston Magistrates’ Court heard the girl said “no” and took a photo of the white Ford van allegedly driven by an intoxicated Mr Ng. The young teen said she feared he could use a side street to cut her off before she made it to school and raised the alarm.
Yesterday the court was told when police arrested Mr Ng, they allegedly found a long seat in his vehicle along with short pieces of rope which they believe could have been used as “hand restraints”.
“The ropes were too short to secure a load …(police are) unsure of the purpose of them,” informant and Frankston Crime Investigation Unit Snr Constable Christopher Fidler told the court.
The incident took place less than a kilometre from the popular walking trail Nat’s Track, where Frankston teen Natalie Russell was brutally murdered by psychopath Paul Denyer in 1993.
Snr Constable Fidler told the court there were two prior police intelligence reports which linked Mr Ng to two incidents involving children being followed in 2017.
He alleged Mr Ng was “spoken to” about both incidents but not charged.
“On March 19, 2017 a man driving a van approached a 16-year-old girl and asked her if she wanted a lift before following her on foot and (stopping) when he realised she was with a group,” Snr Constable Fidler said.
“On October 14, 2017, at Oliver’s Hill, two children were walking ahead of their mother when an Asian driver in a white van offered them a lift.
“When they declined, he asked the mother if they all wanted a lift.”
He alleged Ng followed them for 100 metres.
Snr Constable Fidler alleged the witnesses described the disqualified driver’s white van and said the driver was of Asian appearance with dark hair and a moustache, with the mother taking a picture of the vehicle.
Mr Ng’s lawyer told the court his client was not formally spoken to by police regarding the two previous incidents and that no charges or arrests had been made.
“So how were the incidents of considerable concern?,” he said.
The defence also argued that it was “not surprising” there was a large seat was in the back of Mr Ng’s vehicle as he had three children.
“(You said) the purpose (of the rope) was not known but now you’re saying it’s for the purpose of a hand restraint … it’s guesswork,” he said.
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Mr Ng, who was supported by his wife in court, faces a number of charges including stalking, and fail to answer bail.
The prosecution said the 17-year-old was “terrified” of the prospect of Mr Ng being released on bail, but his lawyer said his client had no knowledge of where she lived.
“(But) she will be in her school uniform, on her way to school in proximity to Ng’s home,” Snr Constable Fidler said.
“There is a pattern of behaviour that heightens police concern for the community’s safety.”
Mr Ng’s bail application was adjourned part-heard.
He will face court again via video link on June 9.