Man faces court over Frankston schoolgirl stalking as high school increases security
A man who allegedly stalked a schoolgirl in Frankston North, less than 1km from the track where Natalie Russell was brutally murdered in 1993, was on bail at the time of the incident, a court has heard.
South East
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A Frankston North man was on bail when he allegedly stalked and unlawfully assaulted a schoolgirl on Thursday.
Richard Ng, 38, was arrested and charged with several offences, including stalking whilst on bail, stalking another person and unlawful aggravated assault.
A petrified 17-year-old raised the alarm when a man in a white van followed her near Monterey Secondary College just before 8.30am.
Mr Ng, who suffers from anxiety and depression, represented himself at Frankston Magistrates Court on Friday and opted to wait until he received legal advice before applying for bail.
Court documents reveal he was arrested while intoxicated in the presence of his wife but did not detail why he was on bail at the time of the alleged offences.
More charges include driving an unroadworthy and unregistered vehicle whilst disqualified.
The matter was adjourned by Magistrate Vicky Prapas with Mr Ng set to face court again on March 10 via video link.
He has long black hair, arm tattoos, moustache and goatee
The court appearance comes after a petrified teenage girl was followed by a man in a white van on her way to a Frankston North school yesterday morning.
The frightening incident took place less than a kilometre from Nat’s Track, where Frankston teen Natalie Russell was brutally murdered by psychopath Paul Denyer in 1993.
The 17-year-old Monterey Secondary College student was initially approached on Forest Drive in Frankston North by the van with a man inside, just before 8.30am.
“The victim told investigators that a man pulled up in a white van and allegedly asked her if she wanted a lift,” police said.
“The victim declined his invitation and continued walking on her way to school.”
After the student turned the man down, he drove into a side street while the girl was stopped by a traffic controller at a construction site.
At that point the girl turned and saw the man walking towards her.
“The victim, feeling threatened, quickly ran along Forest Drive to her school where the incident was reported to police,” police said.
Monterey Secondary College staff confirmed the incident was not the first stalking report they had received and announced they would increase teacher presence along the short cut which runs off Skye Rd, through the Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club and connects through to the school.
“We’ve had a couple of separate reports from students about unknown males in vehicles approaching them,” the school said on social media.
“We are not aware of any current / immediate threat to students walking to and from school but will have a staff presence along Nat’s track and other common routes.
“Thanks to the great staff here at Monterey for their hard work supporting students and the fantastic work of Victoria Police in supporting us with the ongoing management of this.
“If anyone notices anything suspicious, please contact the school or police.
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Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the man, or the van, in the vicinity of Forest Drive at the time of the incident.
Police believe the van is a white Ford Transit, with damage to the windscreen and curtains at the window.