A man found living with a woman in Moss Vale in defiance of court orders that were meant to protect her has been identified in court as an accused sex offender wanted on multiple warrants interstate.
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Rickie Karl Markham was discovered asleep beside the woman in a camp site off Willow Drive at Moss Vale on Sunday,after police received an anonymous tip-off alerting them to his presence.
The 34-year-old was arrested, only for police to then learn he was wanted on nine outstanding warrants in Queensland.
A Queensland court had issued a temporary protection order in May last year, prohibiting Markham from contacting the woman or coming within 100 metres of her. The order remains in force Australia-wide for five years.
Markham was refused bail in Wollongong Local Court on Monday, only because he couldn't provide an address where the victim didn't also reside. For reasons not aired in court, Queensland Police have not yet made any moves to extradite him.
Markham made a second bid for bail on Tuesday, his lawyer explaining the woman had since arranged to move out of the caravan.
Opposing bail, Sgt Tanya Pavlin said Markham posed a safety risk to the woman and may commit further serious offences or fail to return to court if released.
"The record I've handed up in relation to the Queensland matters would show a history of violence and of breaching court and police orders," she said.
"Whilst Mr Markham has no history in NSW at all, he has a lengthy history in Queensland and it appears he has left that jurisdiction facing very serious offences.
"Mr Markham does have nine outstanding warrants in Queensland, the latest of that being issued on 17 November for very serious offences, including an allegation of sexual assault."
Defence solicitor Alison Howarth said Markham had lived in NSW for four months without coming to police attention. He offered to report to police daily if released and to forfeit $1000 if he failed to make his next court date.
Bail was refused. The matter returns to Picton Local Court January 11.