A 41-year-old man, accused of attempting to abduct two children in Coburg, has been placed in protective custody amid concerns for his safety, a court has heard.
Timothy Callister appeared before Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday for an administrative hearing after being charged with stalking, grooming a child for sexual conduct, loitering near children, and attempting to commit an indictable offence following two alleged incidents on October 6.
Police allege Callister followed a woman and child into a pharmacy on Victoria Street about 8.20pm, later attempting to follow them into their vehicle. The child reportedly fled back inside while the woman intervened. Staff locked the accused out of the store.
Soon after, he allegedly climbed a fence and entered the Greek Orthodox Church of the Presentation of the Lord, where he approached another child, asking them to leave with him before adults intervened.
Callister was detained by members of the church until police arrived and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In court, his lawyer sought a suppression order, arguing his client was a “protected prisoner” who had been “locked down for most of the day” due to threats following media coverage. However, the magistrate dismissed the request, citing the principle of open justice.
Callister has been remanded in custody and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next week, where prosecutors are expected to move the case to the indictable stream.
Source: yahoo.com
