A "predator" raped two teenage girls after following them from Dapto to a Wollongong Beach, a court has heard.
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Wayne Anthony Cassell fronted Wollongong Local Court to apply for release however Magistrate Gabriel Fleming refused to grant bail noting the seriousness of the charges.
Cassell, 42, has been charged with two counts of having sexual intercourse with a child aged 14 to 16.
Documents tendered to court said the Dapto man saw a 15-year-old girl, who had arranged to meet up with her friend, at the 7-Eleven convenience store in Dapto in the early hours of the morning on Saturday.
Police allege Cassell asked the girl to perform a sexual act on him, which she refused, despite him allegedly threatening her.
The girl's friend arrived a short time later before they walked to McDonald's at Dapto with Cassell allegedly following them making lewd gestures.
The girls alerted staff, saying they needed help, who escorted the teens out and ensured Cassell left in a separate direction.
However, Cassell was "agitated" when he arrived at Dapto Railway Station after following the girls there.
The teens and Cassell boarded a train bound for Wollongong. During the train ride, one of the girls allegedly sent text messages to a friend describing the situation.
Cassell then allegedly followed the girls to the beach, despite them trying to take different route to avoid him.
The teens, who were still fearful of his threat, approached Cassell to compromise with him.
Police allege the girls agreed to allow Cassell to masturbate while they watched in bushes close to the beach.
However, Cassell allegedly forced the girls to perform fellatio on him before he sexually assaulted them.
Police said one of the girls took a photo of the man, who is allegedly Cassell, during the assault.
Police allege Cassell "used fear and intimation" to manipulate the girls to participate in sexual acts with him and described his actions as "predatory".
Cassell was arrested about 7am on Wednesday at his home before he was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and charged.
During an interview, Cassell allegedly denied the accusations, stating he did meet and speak to the teens in the morning but there were no sexual acts.
However, after being shown the photo taken by one of the girls during the alleged sexual acts he asked to be interviewed again.
Cassell allegedly said one of the teens performed oral sex on him at her request and she told him she was 17.
In court on Thursday, Magistrate Fleming refused to release Cassell bail noting the prosecution case appeared strong and he would likely serve a custodial sentence if convicted.
Cassell's defence lawyer told the court his client needed to be at liberty to care for his family, that he suffered from a mental health condition and may be at a higher risk in prison.
After Magistrate Fleming adjourned the case to February 24, Cassell called out in court asking to be put in "protective custody".
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