Man faces court over alleged Frankston schoolgirl stalking near Nat’s Track
A teenager allegedly followed by a man as she walked to school in Frankston North, close to where Natalie Russell was murdered in 1993, took photos of the van he was driving, a court has heard. But the accused man denies stalking the girl.
South East
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A petrified schoolgirl was forced to sprint down a Frankston North street after a man allegedly pulled over his van and asked if she wanted a lift, a court has heard.
Frankston North man Richard Ng was on bail when he allegedly stopped his Ford van and walked towards the 17-year-old Monterey Secondary College student as she walked on Forest Dr on February 27.
Frankston Magistrates’ Court heard the student ran away from Mr Ng after telling him “no” when he allegedly asked her if she wanted a lift about 8.30am.
The prosecution told the court the girl took a photo of Mr Ng’s van with curtains covering the back window after he got inside and drove away, and feared he could use a side street to cut her off before she made it to school and raised the alarm.
The frightening 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.
Court documents allege Mr Ng was arrested while intoxicated and in the presence of his wife but did not detail why he was on bail at the time of the alleged offences.
Further charges included driving an unroadworthy and unregistered vehicle while disqualified.
Mr Ng’s lawyer said his client denied stalking the girl when he was interviewed and also questioned if the actions amounted to stalking.
But the prosecution told Magistrate Charles Tan they still wanted to pursue the charge.
They told the court when the girl reported the incident “she was shaking and was concerned it would happen again“.
Mr Tan said it was “perfectly understandable” as to why the teenager would be concerned.
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On the day of the alleged incident Monterey Secondary College staff said on social media it was not the first stalking report they had received and announced they would increase teacher presence along Nat’s Track, which runs off Skye Rd, through the Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club and connects through to the school.
Mr Ng, who has spent 75 days in custody and suffers from anxiety and depression, will return for a contest mention via video link on June 19.