![No bail on child sex count No bail on child sex count](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zTpV5j6X6iLmSh5SbcmSaP/8d77e7e5-7077-47ee-9f48-3bb7f81357b4.jpg/r0_426_5184_3352_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A man accused of the sexual assault of a young girl under his care has abandoned a bail application.
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Stephen Gordon Woodward is now expected to make a second bid next week.
That resulted from his inability to find someone he could live with – with the court’s approval – while on bail.
He fronted magistrate Tony Murray in Albury Local Court on Monday via a video link from Junee jail.
Woodward is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a victim under the authority of the offender.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Shannon Lewis said the alleged victim was “the same young person” over which Woodward had previously been dealt with in court for assault.
Mr Murray said the charge carried 20 years’ jail, with a non-parole period of 10.
Defence solicitor Graham Lamond said the prosecution case was not strong.
Mr Lamond said he was at pains not to say this gratuitously, but the victim was a 12-year-old with autism.
He said that meant there would be “issues in respect of her evidence”.
Mr Lamond said another issue was the amount of time his client would have to spend in custody before his matter could go to trial.
Director of Public Prosecutions representative Andrew Hanshaw then made inquiries as to when the matter could proceed before the District Court in Wagga.
That revealed an earliest date – for a child sexual assault matter, given priority – of August 29.
Mr Murray said that while this was a long period in custody, it was not the only factor to be considered when the ultimate outcome could be a lengthy jail term.
Mr Lamond said the man could live at his parents’ property north of Albury.
But Mr Murray said this was unacceptable, given the assault allegedly took place on another rural property that was just 15 kilometres away.
Mr Lamond later withdraw the bail application to allow time for another suitable residence to be found.
The matter is expected to go before the Wagga Local Court later next week.