Woman claims she was “molested” by man inside female toilets at Albany nightclub

A 24-year-old woman has recounted the moment she claims she was molested inside the female toilets at an Albany nightclub during an indecent assault trial this week. However her alleged attacker has strenuously denied the claims, saying he never set foot in the female toilets or touched the woman. In Albany Magistrates Court on Monday, the woman took the stand, describing a night out in September at Studio 146 where she had a “panic attack” after an alleged sexual assault. Joel Meltevielser, 22, is pleading not guilty to one count of unlawful indecent assault, in which is he alleged to have “molested and groped” the woman while he had her pinned against a wall inside the female toilets. Police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Loverock told the court the alleged assault occurred about 2am on September 12. Giving evidence via video link from a remote witness room, the alleged victim said she was at the nightclub when she told her partner she was going to the bathroom. The woman said there was a man wearing rainbow horizontal-striped pants standing at the entry to the toilets. As she walked past him, she heard someone behind her and turned around, she told the court. “He was right behind me, he was close enough I could smell his breath,” she said. The woman said she yelled at the man to get out but he ignored her and pushed her against the wall, with his “hands going up my skirt and all over my breasts”. She made several attempts to push the man away, she told the court. After what she described a “violent tussle”, another young woman entered the toilets and dragged the man away. Wiping away tears, she told the court she had a panic attack in the bathroom after the alleged assault. The next day, on September 13, police began investigating. After they reviewed CCTV footage and spoke to witnesses, Mr Meltevielser was arrested, charged and denied bail. The 25-year-old woman who intervened told the court she yelled at the man to get out of the female toilets after seeing “a girl pinned up against a wall”. “He raised his hands and started walking backwards ... almost as if he was apologetic,” the 25-year-old said. However when cross-examined, the woman could not be sure that the man in the toilets was the same man who was removed from the nightclub. Studio 146 owner Jason Pages also took the stand, saying staff members reported that a man had been inside the women’s toilets. “I went to the toilets and there was a male coming out of the entrance with three to four females behind,” Mr Pages said. “I tried to find out why he was in the toilets but due to the music and his level of English, we were unable to determine.” Mr Meltevielser was removed from the nightclub, he said. Mr Pages said he was certain the man involved in the alleged assault was Mr Meltevielser due to the “unique and bright” shorts he was wearing on the night. A Studio 146 bartender, the woman who intervened in the toilets, and an Albany detective also gave evidence for the prosecution. Taking the stand for his defence, Mr Meltevielser continued to deny the allegations. Mr Meltevielser said he arrived in Australian in August last year on a three-year working visa. With the help of a Bislama translator, Mr Meltevielser said a woman had asked for his name and told him to follow her into the women’s toilets. “This woman has being saying things, but I didn’t do it,” he said. “If I did I would be honest and say I’m guilty.” Mr Meltevielser said he did not go into the toilets or touch the woman. He told the court security told him to leave because he was “too drunk”. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan will deliver her verdict on February 18.