THE man accused of a violent sex attack on a woman in her East Tamworth home has appeared in court, despite telling his solicitor he didn't want to.
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Anthony Raymond Taylor is being held in custody at the Shortland Correctional Centre in Cessnock, accused of binding, gagging and sexually assaulting a Tamworth woman.
He's facing 11 charges that stem from the alleged attack on the 54-year-old woman in her East Tamworth home on February 9, including aggravated sexual assault and deprive liberty. He is yet to enter pleas.
"Mr Taylor is in custody, he doesn't seek to appear on screen," solicitor Geoff Archer told the court.
But he was ordered to appear via video link, after magistrate Julie Soars said it was a requirement by law, because of developments in the case.
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"By law I have to give an explanation," Ms Soars told the court.
DPP solicitor Jonathan Murray said the charges against Taylor had now been certified, meaning police had confirmed their case against the 58-year-old.
The court heard the matter was now headed to a case conference in mid-July between Taylor, the DPP and defence solicitor.
Ms Soars explained the process to Taylor, who sat silently in prison greens, only saying "good morning" and that he understood the process.
"The charge certificate [has been served], that shows all the offences the prosecution intends to proceed with," she told him.
"The conference is to help you to decide to plead guilty or not guilty or any offers made."
The conference is to help you to decide to plead guilty or not guilty or any offers made.
- Magistrate Julie Soars
The case was adjourned for two months to allow the prosecution and defence to discuss the issues in the case and make any formal plea offers or negotiations, with Taylor set to stay behind bars.
"I'm marking him as bail not applied for, refused," Ms Soars said.
It is the Crown case that Taylor made several attempts to contact and meet the woman in the days following the attack.
Strike Force Yulong was set-up by the state's sex crimes squad and Oxley detectives to investigate the sexual assault.
Detectives seized Taylor's phone and will allege they found videos of the woman that were filmed outside her home without her knowledge.
A property in East Tamworth was raided as part of the investigation where several items of interest were seized, police said at the time of the arrest.
Taylor was first denied bail following his arrest in February.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
