Ipswich man Mikaele Teofilo charged with sexual assault at Redbank Plains Town Square Shopping Centre

A man has been charged with sexually assaulting a female staffer at an Ipswich shopping centre where a grandmother was stabbed just days earlier.

Ipswich police charged a man with sexual assault at Redbank Plains Town Square, just days after a grandmother was fatally stabbed at the same shopping centre.

Mikaele Teofilo’s arrest for the alleged sexual assault was captured in video by a member of the public at the shopping centre last Wednesday, February 7.

Police officers can be seen escorting the 39-year-old Redbank man past flowers laid out in tribute to grandmother Vyleen White, who was fatally stabbed at the same centre on Saturday, February 3.

It’s not alleged Mr Teofilo had any involvement in that incident.

He made an application for bail in Ipswich Magistrates’ Court today, February 12, charged with two counts of sexual assault.

A Samoan translator was present to communicate with Mr Teofilo, who appeared via video link.

Police will allege he inappropriately touched a staff member at one of the stores over her clothing on February 7, before returning soon after and kissing her hand repeatedly.

Magistrate Robert Walker said the allegations were both “concerning” and “disturbing”.

Mikaele Teofilo, 39 (wearing a blue singlet) arrested by police on February 7 at Redbank Town Square. Picture: Facebook/Dean Boyd

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jo Colston said Mr Teofilo had no suitable bail address.

“This alone sets the defendant up to fail if he returns to what we say is the offence location to ‘sleep rough’,” she said.

Sgt Colston said police would seek bail conditions restricting Mr Teofilo from returning to the shopping centre if he were to be granted bail.

Defence lawyer Emily Fackender said such conditions would appropriately mitigate any risks her client posed.

She said he had limited criminal history, with no previous offending of the same nature.

He had come to Australia in 2019 and had a limited support network in the area, she said.

Mr Walker said it was of “considerable concern” that Mr Teofilo had no fixed place of residence.

But he told Mr Teofilo: “Disturbing as the charges are, you are not likely to be imprisoned upon conviction for them”.

Mr Walker granted Mr Teofilo bail under conditions he not contact the alleged victim, not return to the vicinity of the Redbank Town Square Shopping Centre, and that he report to Goodna police station twice a week.

The matter was adjourned to March 4, with Mr Teofilo required to appear in person on that date.

Originally published as Ipswich man Mikaele Teofilo charged with sexual assault at Redbank Plains Town Square Shopping Centre