A sexual predator previously jailed for attempted rape in Queensland has confessed to holding down a woman at Coledale and trying to force himself on her.
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Thirroul man James Gray Harford pushed the woman to the ground, pinned her arms above her head and forced his pelvis between her legs in the early hours of January 10 this year following a boozy night out at a Thirroul hotel.
The woman screamed for help, fearing she was about to be sexually assaulted, and managed to draw the attention of two people who came to her aid.
In Port Kembla Local Court on Tuesday, Harford, 30, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with an act of indecency, as well as four unrelated charges of using a carriage service to offend.
It was revealed he had previously spent time in jail in Queensland after being convicted of a charge of assault with intent to rape.
Police documents tendered to the court reveal the Coledale victim had been at Ryan’s Hotel in Thirroul with her partner and several friends when Harford, who was also drinking at the pub, started talking to the group close to the midnight closing time.
The friends, and Harford, decided to go to Wombarra Beach to continue drinking, with the woman accompanying Harford to his parents’ place nearby to get more alcohol, then catching a taxi to the beach together.
When the woman decided to go home a short time later, Harford offered to catch the train with her and they left together.
However, the woman said Harford began making inappropriate comments to her on the journey and she became concerned about his intentions.
Harford followed her off the train at Coledale, prompting the woman to begin running down the road, however Harford quickly caught up with her when she stopped to catch her breath and he forced her to the ground and lay on top of her.
Harford fled the scene when the woman yelled out.
Police arrived a short time later. As they were driving the woman to a friend’s house she noticed Harford walking along the road and pointed him out to police.
He was spoken to briefly but allowed to leave.
He was arrested and charged in April while reporting to Wollongong police station.
Meantime, Harford also confessed to making harassing and offensive phone calls to a 17-year-old he did not know, but whose phone number he found online.
Harford set his phone number to private and repeatedly phoned the girl over two days in March, making lewd comments and suggestions whenever she answered the phone.
The matter was reported to police, who traced the calls back to Harford’s phone.
During a subsequent interview, Harford admitted to making the phone calls, telling officers he didn’t know the girl but had found her number on the internet.
Harford will be assessed by a psychologist before he is sentenced in July.
