A man accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl in a dance studio toilet has been arrested.
Anthony Sampieri, 54, was arrested by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad at Maroubra Police Station on Sunday afternoon.
Sampieri, who had been under police guard in hospital, was transferred to the police station just before 4pm after doctors determined he was fit to be released.
Anthony Sampieri (right), 54, was arrested by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad at Maroubra Police Station on Sunday afternoon
Sampieri, who had been under police guard in hospital, was transferred to the police station just before 4pm after doctors determined he was fit to be released
Detectives are expected to lay a number of charges on Sampieri who allegedly sexually assaulted a girl, 7, and stabbed a man who tried to intervene on Thursday 15 November.
Police have released video footage of the 54-year-old as he was handed into custody.
The day before the attack, Sampieri browsed women’s clothing store in a boutique only 300m from the Kogarah studio.
The revelation of his bizarre behaviour comes as Sampieri’s mother Lucy said her son, a previously convicted rapist, has ruined their family.
Police swarmed Only Love AJ clothing shop on Saturday afternoon after the business card of a female employee was found in one of Sampieri’s pockets.
‘He spent nearly two hours in the change room, he grabbed three or four dresses and he tried them on,’ Only Love AJ employee Kim Pi told The Daily Telegraph.
Alleged attacker Anthony Sampieri is accused of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl in a dance studio bathroom
The horrific alleged attack took place on November 15 before two passersby intervened (pictured is the studio’s men’s bathroom)
She says she asked whether he needed help on multiple occasions, to which he replied that he didn’t want other customers to see him in women’s clothing.
Ms Pi said Sampieri frequently visited the shop over the past few months but only took a business card on his most recent visit, saying he would return.
CCTV footage has been obtained by police of Sampieri making his way into the shop and browsing the racks of clothes.
Sampieri’s bizarre behaviour has been revealed, including going to a women’s boutique shop (pictured) and trying on dresses for nearly two hours on the day before the incident
Nick Gilio (right) had been watching his own daughter only minutes before he walked into the men’s bathroom and interrupted the alleged sexual assault. Dentist and former boxer Jeffrey Stack (left) punched the alleged attacker unconscious
Sampieri had been living in a small flat with his mother only a few hundred metres from the dance studio.
She says her son displayed no warning signs.
‘There is already so much information out there and it’s ruined my family. There was no sign.’
Nick Gilio had been watching his own daughter only minutes before he walked into the men’s bathroom and interrupted the alleged sexual assault.
When a fight ensued between Sampieri and Mr Gilio – who was allegedly stabbed in the abdomen and neck in the struggle – dentist and former boxer Jeffrey Stack rushed in and punched the alleged attacker in the face, knocking him unconscious.
Sampieri remains under guard in hospital and police are waiting for medical professionals to grant his release when he will likely be hit with fresh charges.
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