A man who alleged sexually and indecently assaulted a three-year-old girl at a Perisher ski resort chalet has posted bail.
David Carl Ewen was released on Thursday under strict conditions after has family posted a $200,000 surety, weeks after he was arrested last month.
The girl’s mother allegedly saw him put his hands between the girl’s legs, near her thighs, when she was sitting on a couch at the Perisher Valley guesthouse on July 15.
David Carl Ewen (pictured) allegedly sexually assaulted a three-year-old girl
As part of his strict bail conditions, Ewen, 50, is not to enter Chalet Sonnenhof, in the Snowy Mountains region and must remain at his Sydney north shore home.
He also may not to be in the presence of any children under the age of 16, and must surrender all passports and report daily to Chatswood Police Station.
Ewen was also subject to strict curfews and ongoing treatment with therapy and medication.
Bail was denied at his last court appearance on August 17 after police tendered facts stating there could be more victims.
The snow lodge where the alleged incident took place
It’s alleged the girl’s mother saw a man put his hands between her daughter’s legs, near her thighs, when she was sitting on a couch at the Perisher Valley guesthouse on July 15 (stock image)
His lawyer at that appearance claimed the crown case was ‘inherently flawed’ and based on ‘unreliable’ evidence from the girl and her mother.
AJ Karim said to the court that instead of immediately rushing to the aid of her daughter she asked her husband to check on the girl.
‘Why would you inquire as to everything being okay if you had observed your daughter being indecently assaulted?’ he said.
Ten days later the girl told her mother she’d been sexually assaulted, he told the court.
The girl disclosed that a man who wasn’t wearing pants orally assaulted her on a stairwell near the guesthouse reception area, Mr Karim said.
He said ‘it is not unnatural for kids to fantasise’ and ‘lie all the time,’ the court heard.
Mr Karim said ‘police also believe that there are a number of other victims who have not made complaints,’ but he said this was ‘pure speculation.’
A stranger who allegedly sexually and indecently assaulted a three-year-old girl at a NSW Snowy Mountains chalet will remain behind bars for now (stock image)
Ewen, 50, appeared via audio-visual link at Central Local Court on Thursday
The prosecutor said to the court that even though the girl was only three year old she gave a clear account of what happened and a good description of the man who allegedly assaulted her.
She also said the mother’s reaction was not unreasonable.
Magistrate Sharon Freund said it ‘is not an overwhelmingly strong case but it is a strong crown case.’
Ewen will next appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on October 9.
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