Mackay District Court downgrades sexual assault charges for Robert Gordon Ussher

A Mackay man previously accused of sexually assaulting women while helping with “stretches” has had his charges downgraded after it was revealed he was impaired and had NDIS-funded care.

Robert Gordon Ussher, 31, was previously charged with eight counts of sexual assaults, but had his charges dropped to common assault and was released on a good behaviour bond with no convictions recorded. Photo: Fergus Gregg

A man previously accused of sexually assaulting at least two women during workouts has had his charges downgraded after it was revealed he was intellectually impaired.

Robert Gordon Ussher, 31, was previously charged with sexual assault in 2022, but now his offending has been dropped to eight counts of common assault.

The Mackay District Court recently heard between January 2019 and May 2022 he approached a number of women and offered to assist them with pilates and other exercises.

Some of these women were touched without consent.

Ussher was charged with allegedly pretending to be a yoga instructor and sexually assaulting at least two women and was committed to the district court in 2022. Picture: Duncan Evans

The court heard Ussher had no criminal history and he was arrested on May 19, 2022 before he was released on bail.

He pleaded guilty to eight counts of common assault on March 19, 2025.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan told the court Ussher had a NDIS package and attended supervised workshops for his disabilities at least three days a week.

He said Ussher’s primary carer was his mother who was present in court supporting him and he had a full time, paid carer.

He also said Ussher had been on bail for nearly three years with no reoffending.

“He does have some impairments but he understands and he’s demonstrated over the last three years that he can't show stretches or engage in that sort of conduct when he’s out in the community,” Mr McLennan said.

Mr McLennan said Ussher had already been punished in the form of public shaming from coverage of the court matter.

District judge John Coker said the maximum penalty of three years imprisonment was “not at all appropriate” and there was an assessed intellectual disability and indications of mild cerebral palsy.

“You do appreciate the wrongness of what you did, not because you intended it to be wrong but... because we are all entitled to our own privacy,” Judge Coker said.

“Another person touching our body no matter how innocently... is still something that we need to be very mindful of.”

Judge Coker said Ussher had otherwise led a blameless life and in seeking to socialise he “perhaps overstepped the bounds that might be acceptable to other members of the community”.

In relation to each count of common assault, Ussher was put on good behaviour bonds for a period of 12 months and no conviction was recorded.

“I most sincerely hope sir that life is as kind to you as it possibly can be,” Judge Coker said.
“I wish you well for the future.”

Originally published as Mackay District Court downgrades sexual assault charges for Robert Gordon Ussher