Former ‘First Bloke’ Timothy Mathieson may be convicted of sexual assault
The ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard could be convicted of sexual assault for sucking a woman’s nipple without her consent after a diversion was “taken off the table”.
Police & Courts
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The ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard could be convicted for sexually assaulting a woman by sucking her nipple without her consent.
Tim Mathieson, the hairdresser who became Australia’s ‘First Bloke’, faced the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where his defence lawyer revealed his client would plead guilty to one count of sexual assault.
The 66-year-old “intentionally sexually touched” his victim in March 2022 “by sucking her nipple without her consent” while in Brunswick East, according to a charge sheet.
This was done in circumstances where he “did not reasonably believe she consented to the touching”.
Defence lawyer Brad Penno told Magistrate Andrew Sim his client was hoping to be placed on a diversion plan.
However, Mr Penno said that option had been “taken off the table”.
If Mathieson was placed on a diversion plan, he would have escaped conviction over the sexual assault.
The prosecution previously told the court it would have to consult with the victim about the possibility of a diversion plan.
While it remains unclear, the woman may have requested the matter not proceed in this way.
By pleading guilty, the former First Bloke now faces being criminally convicted.
The maximum penalty for sexual assault is 10 years’ imprisonment.
No details of the offending were aired in court, which means it still remains unclear exactly how the sexual assault occurred.
However, the incident occurred a fortnight before Ms Gillard publicly confirmed they had ended their 15-year relationship in 2021.
Mathieson was charged with three offences in May this year by the sexual offences squad.
But two charges – which were not disclosed – were withdrawn by the prosecution at the last court appearance.
Mathieson and Ms Gillard began dating in 2006 while she was the deputy leader of the Labor Party.
After Ms Gillard became prime minister in 2010, the pair became the first unmarried couple to live at The Lodge, until she was toppled in a leadership spill in 2013.
Despite declaring in 2011 that he wished to wed Ms Gillard, the couple never married.
He will return to court for a one-hour plea hearing on October 19.
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