Stanley Robin Doolan, 34, of McPhillamy Avenue, Gormans Hill, smiled and waved to his family in the public gallery as he appeared before magistrate Michael Allen via audio-visual link for a bail hearing.

Doolan is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault with the threat to inflict actual bodily harm to the victim with a weapon, and one count of threatening to inflict actual bodily harm with the intent to have sexual intercourse. It is alleged the weapon was a black-handled, steel-bladed kitchen knife.

The charges relate to an incident at Kelso between 1pm and 1.30pm on Sunday.

Doolan was refused bail and will re-appear before Bathurst Local Court on December 14. 

The accused was represented in court by solicitor Clancy Dane.

Mr Dane said Doolan had previously been convicted of a similar offence and, if convicted, these offences could carry a penalty of 14 years imprisonment. He said the accused’s family had requested he be given home detention, supervised around the clock by his aunt and mother.

Mr Dane said Doolan’s sister had suffered a stroke and was in hospital and the accused was concerned for her and wanted to be there for his family. He said Doolan had strong community ties and if he was granted bail he would reside with his aunt at Gormans Hill. 

But prosecutor Sergeant Darren Pearce said house arrest posed a significant risk and that there was a very strong prosecution case. 

He said the victim knew the accused and there were witnesses who had attempted to get in to the room where the offence was alleged to have occurred. 

“With his record he faces a very, very lengthy period of custody,” Sgt Pearce said.

“He was on parole until November last year for a similar offence. He has also served time in custody for domestic violence offences.”

Mr Allen said the nature of the offences meant it fell upon the defendant to show why detention was not justified.

He said these were very serious allegations, there was a level of violence and sexual gratification involved, and the accused had a lengthy criminal history.

Mr Allen added that Doolan had a 12 year sentence imposed by the District Court for a similar matter and had been on parole until November 2014.