Sydney man charged after allegedly touching woman’s bottom while she tried to sleep on flight from US

Headshot of Peta Rasdien
Peta Rasdien
The Nightly
Airline crew alerted authorities after the man allegedly touched the woman on the thigh and buttock while she tried to sleep.
Airline crew alerted authorities after the man allegedly touched the woman on the thigh and buttock while she tried to sleep. Credit: The Nightly

A Sydney man accused of touching a woman’s bottom during a flight from the United States has been charged with indecent assault.

He was arrested by Australian Federal Police officers who were waiting for the 36-year-old as soon as he got off the May 29 Los Angeles to Sydney flight.

Airline crew had alerted authorities after he allegedly touched the woman inappropriately on the thigh and buttock while she tried to sleep.

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It came after the man had allegedly moved seats to sit in the same row as the woman, who he did not know.

“When crew members became aware of the alleged incident, they moved the woman to a different section of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight,” an AFP statement about the incident read.

Officers met the plane when it landed and interviewed the man and other crew and passengers, before issuing the man with a court attendance notice for one count of an act of indecency without consent, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.

AFP Detective Inspector Dom Stephenson said any allegations of inappropriate or criminal behaviour on land or in the air would be taken seriously and investigated.

“No one on an aircraft should feel unsafe because of the behaviour of other travellers and if someone has committed an offence, the AFP will take action,” Det Insp Stephenson said.

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