Bus stop lewd act alleged

Sex offender bailed with strict conditions

A CONVICTED elderly sex offender has been granted bail after allegedly touching himself at an Edmonton bus stop.

The 69-year-old’s behaviour was allegedly witnessed by two children, who were also near the Farmer St bus stop.

The Cairns District Court was told that Warren Gray was on a suspended sentence for indecent treatment of children when the alleged offending occurred on November 8.

The court was told yesterday, during a bail application, he had been on probation since June of this year and had been complying with strict reportable sex offender conditions.

Mr Gray, who resided with family and was the recipient of the pension, had not previously breached bail.

It was argued that Mr Gray was not a flight risk and was willing to comply with bail conditions including weekly reporting to police.

The court was told he had a heart condition, which required the insertion of two stents and was on medication for that and for HIV. The court was told that he was charged with two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16.

Police objected to bail on the grounds that there was a risk of Mr Gray reoffending in a similar way.

“These (alleged) offences are not made out by actual contact, it’s by your behaviour in the vicinity of children,” Magistrate Alan Comans said.

“So I’m prepared to grant you bail on the basis that you haven’t breached bail before.”

Mr Gray must comply with strict conditions, which include no contact and he cannot go within 20m of the two complainant children, no contact with any children under 16 years old and he cannot go within 20m of the Farmer St bus stop.

Matters against Mr Gray were adjourned to mid December.

He must appear in person unless he has legal representation.