A SEX offender who took off his electronic tracking anklet in Sydney and fled to Albury-Wodonga was arrested yesterday after he crashed a stolen car.
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The incident came as Corrective Services NSW seeks tenders for tracking devices to monitor the worst sex offenders more effectively.
Tangambalanga man Daniel Anthony McQuilton, 27, was jailed for three years in 2009.
He had sexually assaulted and bashed a Wodonga dancer as she left the DMB dance studio in Young Street, Albury, in 2008.
On release, McQuilton was placed on an extended supervision order for two years and for six months he was to wear a tracking anklet.
Police said at 4.15pm on Wednesday, he took the anklet off in Sydney, triggering an alarm to Corrective Services staff.
He left the anklet in central Sydney and allegedly stole a Mitsubishi Lancer.
At 4.30am yesterday, police said, McQuilton lost control of the Lancer in London Road, Wodonga, and crashed into a tree.
Half an hour later McQuilton walked into the Wodonga police station and handed himself in.
Sgt Larry Goldsworthy said McQuilton was charged with bringing stolen goods into Victoria and careless driving.
He was remanded to the Wodonga Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when he faces extradition to NSW.
Corrective Services said breaching an extended supervision order would attract a prison sentence in NSW.
A spokeswoman would not comment on how effective the tracking anklets are in controlling the state’s worst sex offenders who wear them.
The spokeswoman said Corrective Services NSW is well advanced in a tender process to obtain the latest tracking equipment with improved anti-tamper features.
She said the tender process should be finalised mid-year.
“It is important to note there is no such thing as absolutely tamper-proof devices, which is why back-to-base tamper alarms will continue to be used with any CSNSW tracking equipment,” she said.
“It was an alarm set off by this offender’s tampering with the equipment that alerted CSNSW staff.”
They acted according to procedures to quickly confirm McQuilton had removed the device and then alerted police, she said.
NSW was the first Australian state to introduce monitoring bracelets in 2007.
In 2009, 17 serious sex offenders were fitted with the devices.
McQuilton told the prosecution barrister in 2009 that his intention was to hurt the victim rather than sexually assault her.
“I had a lot of anger and frustration towards women in particular,” McQuilton said.
“I just wanted to release that anger.”
The dancer, who was 20 at the time of the attack, pleaded with McQuilton not to hurt her after he approached her from behind when she got into her vehicle after leaving the studio at 10pm.
McQuilton bashed and sexually assaulted the victim.