Dalyellup Shopping Centre toilet alleged attack: Bunbury teen barred from contact with kids as part of bail

The teenager accused of indecently attacking an 11-year-old boy inside a shopping centre toilet has been barred from having any contact with children without the presence of a support worker or leave his home alone. The man, whose name and address have been suppressed, appeared in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday where he faced charges of deprivation of liberty, indecent dealing of a child aged under 13 years, and three counts of aggravated common assault. Police alleged the man entered a public toilet inside Dalyellup Shopping Centre around 3pm on Tuesday. Whilst inside the toilet, it was alleged the teenager held an 11-year-old boy against his will and assaulted the boy. It was alleged the teenager was accompanied by a female support worker at the time of offending when he entered the public toilets alone. The teenager, who the court was told had “significant intellectual disabilities” including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and chromosomal abnormalities, sat at the bar table with a support worker and looked at the courtroom floor throughout the hearing. He nodded his head to show he understood the allegations and said “yes” on occasion. Despite a police application to revoke the man’s bail, citing community safety concerns, Magistrate Belinda Coleman dismissed the application knowing the man would have been “languishing inside Hakea Prison” rather than a “secure facility” police intended. “I believe it is entirely inappropriate for a young man with the diagnoses he has to be sent to prison,” she said. The man’s bail was extended with strict conditions including having no contact with any child aged under 18 years, protective conditions for the alleged victims and being banned from entering or being within 500m of Dalyellup Shopping Centre. The matters were adjourned for further legal advice with the potential for a fitness to plead report flagged to be sought at a future date. The man is next due to appear on January 13.