‘Dangerous and predatory’: 62yo followed group of young girls through Bondi for 3 days
Court documents reveal how a man followed the same group of 12-year-old girls across multiple locations in Bondi across three days in January.
A 62-year-old man had a “ clear modus operandi” when he stalked a group of 12-year-old girls for three days after sitting next to them at Westfield Bondi Junction McDonald’s, court documents have revealed.
Mark Coker, a stranger to the young girls, was sentenced to a community corrections order of 12 months and fined $220 in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday after he was found to have followed the girls through Bondi earlier this year.
A community corrections order is a term of imprisonment served in the community.
Court documents obtained by news.com.au revealed how police argued against Coker’s bail, which was granted, calling him a “repeat offender” and labelling his actions “dangerous and predatory”.
“Police hold extreme concern that the accused will continue to reoffend and target further children,” the documents state.
“The accused committed these acts over a span of three days with a clear modus operandi.”
The police facts detailed how on January 24, Coker sat next to the girls as they ate at Bondi Westfield McDonald’s and “giggled along” as they spoke to each other.
Court documents state that Coker “left the dining area and waved at the victims” and yelled out: “Bye guys”.
He then followed the group through Westfield, making the girls “uncomfortable” with the group quickly rushing down an escalator into a store.
On January 25 at 6pm, Coker blocked the girls from walking across a pedestrian crossing with his car at North Bondi.
Court documents state Coker yelled out: “Hey girls. You don’t remember me, do you? I’m the guy from McDonald’s” before laughing and driving away.
Two days later – on January 27 in the afternoon – the girls were swimming at the north end of Bondi Beach when they spotted Coker on the sand.
“From the water, the victims saw the accused start to take off his shirt as though he were going to enter the water,” the documents state.
“The victims were concerned that he would swim towards them, so they went back to the shore and left the beach.”
They matter was reported to the police, with the young girls fearing Coker would cause them “physical harm”.
“The frequency of the interactions made the victims feel that the accused was intentionally following them,” the court documents stated.
Following a police investigation, Coker was arrested on January 30.
He was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with four counts of stalking or intimidation and one count of stopping on or near a pedestrian crossing.
Magistrate Michael Barko handed down a 12-month community correction order for the stalking charges and a $220 fine for the driving charges.
As part of his order, he cannot commit any offence and must comply with any mental health counselling or rehab directed by his case manager.
Is there a case we should be covering? Contact our reporter at sarah.keoghan@news.com.au or let us know anonymously here.
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