Barry John Reid appeared in Dubbo Local Court this week after being charged in relation to the offences in December of last year.

He faced charges of aggravated sexual assault - inflict actual bodily harm on victim, aggravated enter dwelling with intent, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and face blackened/disguised with intent to commit serious indictable offence.

The charges relate to an incident on the central coast in 1997 which detectives from Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command (LAC) have been investigating ever since.

Warrants had been placed for Mr Reid’s arrest but on learning of these, he handed himself in to police and was subsequently charged.

On Monday Mr Reid, who has lived most of his life in the Dubbo and Narromine areas, appeared before Magistrate Howard Hamilton and through his defence solicitor applied for bail.

It was stated that he had no prior breaches of bail on his criminal history and that he had never failed to appear in court when required to do so.

However the police prosecutor opposed the idea of bail, stating the nature of the charges, the fact a warrant had been issued for Mr Reid’s arrest and the unprovoked nature of the alleged incident as reasons.

Magistrate Hamilton denied the application, citing the serious nature of the allegations made against Mr Reid as the reason.

“I have to take into account the serious allegations that have been made as well as the apparent strength of

the prosecution case,” he said.

“There is clearly a need to apply a realistic level of protection to both the victim and the community at large.”

The matter was adjourned, with a brief order to be served by March 24 and a reply in Wyong Local Court on April 7.