A father has given harrowing evidence in a Wollongong courtroom, describing the moment his daughter called him in a state of hysteria after she was allegedly assaulted by her grandfather.
Father's Distressing Testimony
The man told Wollongong Local Court on Monday, January 19, 2026, that he was working from home on August 16, 2024, when he received an alarming message from his daughter's best friend. The message stated the young woman was "scared" and confused about what was happening.
The father immediately called his daughter. "I've never heard her like that, she was just hysterical ... I felt helpless, it was a horrible situation," he testified, reaching for tissues during his emotional evidence.
The court heard the woman's non-biological grandfather, aged 76, had picked her up from Dapto train station earlier that day. The prosecution alleges that during a trip to the Berkeley Fish Markets, the older man began making strange comments about needing samples of the woman's hair and rubbed her thigh.
The Alleged Assault
According to the evidence, the pair then drove to a McDonald's restaurant so the woman could use the bathroom. The father said his daughter called him from there but indicated she could not speak openly about what was occurring.
It is alleged that after being driven back to Dapto station, the grandfather touched the woman's breast and groin over her clothing and attempted to kiss her. Following this incident, the father instructed his daughter to make a three-way call with her grandmother.
"I said [to the grandmother] he tried to kiss [her] and he groped her," the father told the court. The grandmother allegedly responded that her partner was in Sydney watching a soccer match with friends.
Once his daughter was home, the father encouraged her to contact police. He testified that she was hesitant, fearing damage to her relationship with her grandmother. "I said you can't let him get away with it. If you brush it under the carpet, as you get older, it might affect you more," he told the court.
The Accused's Denial
The accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexually touching a person without consent and one count of common assault. Taking the stand, he firmly denied all allegations.
The 76-year-old said the woman had greeted him with a hug at the station. He claimed that after their stop at McDonald's, she returned from the bathroom "very upset" and asked to be taken back to the train immediately.
He admitted to giving her money for gifts and a car registration, but said he warned her to be careful with finances. The man also acknowledged asking for a kiss goodbye, noting it was their usual custom, but said she refused due to lack of time.
Addressing the specific allegations of sexual touching, he stated: "I hear she says I touch her here, touch there. I did not do, no." He conceded only to touching her right knee. "That's all, I've got nothing else to say," he told the magistrate.
Case Adjourned for Cross-Examination
The matter has been adjourned until April 2026, when the cross-examination of the grandfather is scheduled to commence. The accused man maintains his plea of not guilty to all charges before the court.
The case continues to unfold in Wollongong Local Court, highlighting the profound personal impact of such allegations on families within the Illawarra community.
