Dressed in a fresh green polo shirt and blue jeans, Jeffrey Barnes appeared in summary court on Friday morning, charged with one count of sexual assault.

Unrepresented, Mr Barnes was assisted by attorney John Furniss in front of Magistrate Nova Hall. Crown Counsel Candice James appeared for the prosecution.

“The basis of the allegation is an assault,” Mr Furniss told the court. “I want to talk to Mr Barnes about it,” he said, seeking a delay.

Barnes was charged with a 27 October attack on a 17-year-old, a member of the ex-convict’s family.

Ms Hall suggested bail was unlikely to be an issue, echoed by Ms James, who opposed any move to release Mr Barnes. He has already served a prison sentence for one rape, escaped at least once and was recently charged with a second rape.

“I have no problem with that,” Mr Furniss said, “but will ask him to sign a Legal Aid form.”

“Will you be involved in the general matter?” she asked the defence counsel.

“I doubt it,” he said.

While Ms Hall witnessed the application, she referred it elsewhere for consideration, then placed Barnes in police custody.

“You are formally remanded, and will be brought back to Summary Court on 7 November at 10am,” she told him.

Standing with his hands behind his back, Barnes did not speak during the appearance, whispering only with Mr Furniss as he initialed the Legal Aid application.