Gatton man on rape charges to undergo mental health assessment before bail plea
A Gatton man, who was once an aspiring NRL player, will undergo a mental health assessment before being able to make a bail application next week.
A one-time promising NRL football player from Gatton, charged with two counts of rape, has had his case adjourned for three days so he can have a medical assessment.
Ipswich Acting Magistrate Sudha Ganasan adjourned a preliminary bail application hearing for Gatton man Andrew Rex Stewart so he could get a mental health assessment at the Ipswich Mental Health Hospital.
Mr Stewart will be held in custody until after the assessment and is due to return to court on Tuesday for a bail application hearing.
He has been detained since his arrest and appeared before Ipswich Magistrates Court via video link after being transferred to Ipswich from Richlands watch house on Thursday.
The 33-year-old, fullback and winger who was once vetted by the Brisbane Broncos, was arrested and charged following an alleged incident on a Laidley street on the weekend.
Police alleged Mr Stewart attacked an 18-year-old woman on a street near the Laidley Sports Complex in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Court documents show the incident occurred at 3am after Mr Stewart allegedly made inappropriate comments towards the woman, while he was riding an electric scooter near the intersection of Patrick and Edward Sts in the rural town, 85km west of Brisbane.
It was alleged the woman sought refuge in the backyard of a nearby property before she returned to Patrick St a short time later, when Mr Stewart allegedly approached her and physically assaulted her.
Police said two men who were nearby and a security guard rushed to the woman’s aid.
She was treated for injuries.
Police were called to the incident, which occurred near the Laidley Sports Complex, and arrested Mr Stewart a short time later.
Mr Stewart’s defence lawyer Patrick O’Donnell said his client was troubled and had a history of mental illness, but had actively spent time trying to help others and raise money for mental health causes
“There were a number of NRL teams fighting for his signature,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“Due to the fact that all addresses for bail were deemed unsuitable by police, the matter cannot proceed today but that gives us time to assess his mental health.
“I requested this examination order and the court granted that considering the nature of the charges.”
Mr O’Donnell said there had been a number addresses Mr Stewart put forward as places he could stay if bail were granted but all were ruled out by police, including that of his mother Christine, a well-respected Ipswich Indigenous leader.
Mr O’Donnell said Mr Stewart had aspirations to play with some of the country’s leading league clubs but had missed out and then turned his attention to raising funds for mental health.
Police Prosecutor Acting Senior Sergeant Matt Donaldson told the court the matter would be dealt with by the Department of Public Prosecutions to be heard in a higher court and called for a delay in any bail application until suitable addresses could be found.
Mr Stewart’s mother listened to proceedings from the back of the court.
The matter was briefly mentioned in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday before Mr Stewart had time to make a bail application.
His case was sent to Ipswich Magistrates Court for mention on Wednesday before Thursday’s preliminary bid for bail.
Originally published as Gatton man on rape charges to undergo mental health assessment before bail plea
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