Man accused of performing 'indecent act' in front of sunbaking women denied bail
An accused sexual predator reportedly harassing young women in broad daylight has been caught out by the partner of one of his alleged victims.
Sydney police officers swooped on 27-year-old Jules Baker after one woman claimed he had performed an indecent act in front of her as she sunbaked in a Sydney park.
In mobile phone footage, Baker is stretched out on the grass and denied any wrongdoing when questioned by Richard Taylor, the boyfriend of the concerned woman.
Mr Taylor ran to the park to confront the alleged offender after receiving a worrying text message from his girlfriend.
"At the time she was scared and very put off,” Mr Taylor told 7 News.
His partner left the park after sending the message, but when Mr Taylor arrived at the scene, he said Baker was already sitting within metres of another girl.
“Excuse me love, do you know this guy?” Mr Taylor asks the woman.
“No,” she replies.
Another woman said she had a similar run-in with Baker as she walked down a Sydney street.
Edel became aware she was being followed and began to record the scene on her phone.
As she entered a women’s clothing store, she noticed Baker right behind her and decided to confront him.
"You're following me, it's weird,” Edel says in the video.
“I'm not following you,” Baker replies.
“Then why are you in a woman's shop?” she asks.
Recalling the uncomfortable situation, Edel said Baker appeared “smug”.
“You could see in his face that there’s madness in him, by his smile. He was very smug, he didn't care I drew attention to him.”
Baker is a New Zealand national and has no fixed address in Sydney.
He spent Friday night in the cells at Surry Hills Police station and will spend Saturday night remanded in custody at Silverwater Jail.
Edel said she was glad the police intervened before a more serious crime was committed.
“What's the next thing - that he rapes somebody? So I'm glad he has been caught,” she said.
Baker appeared before Parramatta court on Saturday and was refused bail.
News break - January 21