A BATHURST man has described the horrifying moment his granddaughter was allegedly indecently assaulted inside a Kelso business.
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The grandfather said he left the young girl alone behind the counter for just a minute when the attack allegedly occurred.
“It all just happened that quick – it was unbelievable,” he said.
“It really highlights the importance of the stranger danger message, especially during school holidays.”
The young girl said nothing to her grandfather about the alleged attack but told her brother about it when she went home for lunch a short time later.
Police were contacted and the young girl told them the man had indecently assaulted her and exposed himself to her.
Officers responded quickly to arrest a 63-year-old Broken Hill man who was found still in the vicinity of the business.
“My granddaughter is a strong little thing and was able to help the police with their inquiries, but she was crying as well and will be affected by this for a while,” the grandfather said.
The accused man was taken to Bathurst police station where detectives from the Child Abuse Squad charged him with indecent assault and wilful and obscene exposure.
He was refused bail to appear in Bathurst Local Court yesterday.
During a short hearing, the man was again refused bail and ordered to undergo a mental health assessment before returning to court in the new year.
Police urge anyone with information to assist investigations into this incident to contact them.
The Child Abuse Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate crimes against children, including sexual assault, physical abuse and serious cases of neglect.
The squad works in partnership with the Department of Family and Community Services and NSW Health, with specialised tri-agency teams based at metropolitan and regional locations throughout NSW.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
Reports can also be made to the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111.
Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via the NSW Police Facebook or Twitter pages.
