By Perry Duffin and Clare Sibthorpe
WARNING: Graphic content
Police warn nothing will stop Geoffrey Postle from allegedly sexually and physically menacing women, teenagers and even children in Sydney’s streets, trains and shopping centres for his own gratification.
In just six months, the deeply disturbed man allegedly offended eight times, often in breach of bail, with police claiming he threatened and exposed himself to strangers, and, on one occasion, stuck his hands down his pants in front of a little girl – before licking his fingers and staring at her mother in the face.
Police documents reveal fears Geoffrey Postle, an accused serial bail breacher, will not stop allegedly exposing himself, masturbating and harassing women, teenagers and girls in Sydney if released. Credit: Peter Rae
Postle, 48, this week appeared in the Downing Centre Local Court where a magistrate, prosecutors and defence lawyers heard he would fight many of the charges, and debated whether he could be released to undergo more mental health assessments.
Postle had appeared on a video link, dishevelled and in prison clothes, for the hearing on Friday. It had been the same days earlier when he asked to be released by the NSW Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court refused Postle’s release on bail after police filed a damning series of documents outlining his behaviour across Sydney and NSW between May 2023 and his arrest in November.
“[Postle] continually breaches his bail by reoffending despite stringent conditions,” the prosecution documents read.
A number of the alleged offences took place on regional trains.
“It appears no degree of bail conditions can prevent the applicant from engaging in recidivistic conduct.”
Postle allegedly boarded the Southern Explorer train from Central to Canberra on May 19, bickering with staff about seating while wearing his distinctive fluffy white coat and revealing miniskirt.
One passenger allegedly saw Postle’s hands moving under his coat and asked another, “Is he fondling himself?”
Police arrested Postle when he got off the train at Moss Vale. The following month he did not turn up to court and was fined $1000 in absentia.
By then Postle was accused of offending again – this time at Broadway shops in inner Sydney on June 7.
Broadway Shopping Centre in inner Sydney.Credit: Rhett Wyman
“If you were harassed into sex, would you do it?” Postle allegedly asked a 16-year-old store cashier, according to the court documents.
“No,” the fearful teenager replied.
Postle dangled $40 in front of her. “Not even for money?” he allegedly asked, before remarking on her eyelashes and appearance.
Postle also allegedly approached a 15-year-old supermarket worker, remarking on her appearance, and then a mother and young female child.
He was arrested two days later, on June 9 and charged with stalking.
“Police are of the opinion that the accused is escalating in his behaviour,” police warned in court documents.
Postle was bailed two days later by a Local Court magistrate on June 11. He was ultimately fined $750 after again failing to turn up to court to answer the charge.
On June 27, a few weeks after the incidents at Broadway, Postle allegedly berated a woman working on a train on its way to the NSW North Coast, spitting in her face.
SIX MONTHS OF ‘ESCALATING’ ALLEGATIONS
Court documents allege that between May and his arrest in November 2023, Geoffrey Postle carried out multiple sexual, intimidatory and even violent attacks on women, teenagers and children across Sydney and NSW – many in breach of his bail.
May 19, 2023 – Obscene exposure, sexual act without consent on a train. Postle spotted on Southern Explorer train from Sydney to Canberra “fondling” himself beneath a white coat. A male victim sees Postle’s exposed penis as Postle stares out the window.
June 7, 2023 – Stalk/intimidate at Broadway shops. Postle entered Broadway Shopping Centre and harasses a 16-year-old cashier about sex. Postle also approaches a 15-year-old girl in a supermarket and a mother and child before leaving.
June 27, 2023 – Assault and offensive behaviour on a train. At 9.25pm, Postle boards a train at Grafton and sat quietly. Two hours later, as the train travels through Macksville, he verbally attacks passengers and train staff, spitting in a woman’s face. As staff and passengers sheltersfrom his abuse he pulls on the emergency brakes and demands a phone.
June 29, 2023 – Sexual act without consent at Surry Hills. Postle approaches a mother and daughter outside their unit block in Surry Hills wearing just underwear, an open jacket and stockings. He allegedly puts his hand down his underwear and then licks his fingers while staring into the mother’s eyes. He was looking for a Thai massage parlour.
June 30, 2023 – Offensive behaviour at a library. Postle approaches a woman in Darling Square Library, Haymarket, in a sheet white dress and asks if she has time to spend with him. She calls police, a witness intervenes and photographs Postle while he heckles the terrified woman.
August 11, 2023 – Enter land with intent, attempted larceny in Kensington. At 10.28m Postle is captured on CCTV outside a home in Kensington, near where he has lived with his mother. He is later spotted outside the home by police and arrested.
August 22, 2023 – Stalk/intimidate, offensive behaviour in public at a Randwick shop. Postle makes a series of bizarre remarks about sexual abuse to two staff members at Royal Randwick Shopping Centre. He is arrested after returning to the store the following week. The women were “terrified” and “sickened”, police say.
September 24, 2023 – Sexual act without consent, attempt to intimidate and obscene exposure in public on a train. Postle masturbates on a train at Thirroul while staring at a “terrified” 18-year-old woman. It was a crime “predatory and concerning in nature”, police claim.
October 4, 2023 – Obscene exposure, offensive behaviour. Postle opens the front door of his unit just before 6am on October 4 while completely naked. He begins masturbating in full view of the public area and then exits his home, still unclothed, masturbating while walking towards the lifts for 10 minutes.
The train worker and the crew locked themselves in the buffet cabin and the train slammed on the brakes. Postle had pulled the emergency brake and everyone was thrown forward.
“Let me off the train ... give me a phone! You’re depriving me!” he screamed.
Police were waiting for Postle at Kempsey train station. He was not arrested but ordered to front court.
The most disturbing allegations came when a woman and her five-year-old daughter were walking through Surry Hills in the afternoon on June 29.
They were about to enter the back gate to their home when Postle allegedly approached in a white, open jacket, underwear and thigh-high stockings and asked about massage parlours.
Then Postle allegedly put his hand into his underwear and “stared intensely” into the woman’s eyes.
“The victim then looked at [Postle’s] face and watched him pull his hands back out of his underpants, and individually suck the fingers from the hand he placed down his pants in a sexual manner,” the police fact sheet claims.
“The victim was disgusted by [his] behaviour and also concerned for her safety, so she immediately turned away and walked her daughter into their unit complex.”
Just 24 hours later, a woman was studying at Darling Square Library in Haymarket, when Postle allegedly approached wearing a revealing, white sheer dress and visible white underwear.
She said she would call police.
“Is that a threat?” Postle laughed at the woman, the documents claim.
Police warned the Supreme Court that Postle was on bail for his alleged offending at Broadway and had been moved on from schools and the Australian Federal Police building when he approached the woman in Haymarket.
Postle was again sent for psychological assessments and ultimately released.
In mid-August, he was allegedly spotted on CCTV letting himself through a side gate of a stranger’s home and looking for their mail. Police say they spotted Postle on the footpath outside, staring into the home, days later.
He was arrested but, once again, was back on the streets.
Postle walked into a sports store at Royal Randwick Shopping Centre about 12.45pm on August 22, and allegedly made sexual comments towards female employees.
“You look terrified. You’ve been sexually abused when you were young,” Postle said while staring at one of the women, the documents claim.
She told him to “get out”.
“You feel like I’m abusing you,” Postle replied.
Royal Randwick Shopping Centre.Credit: Paul Jones
The women froze in fear and tried to get away from Postle, the documents claim and ordered him out of the store.
“The mannequins are not enjoying themselves like porn,” Postle allegedly babbled.
Police claimed Postle had “terrified” the women and pointed out there were no cameras in the store.
“[His] comments made the victims feel physically sick in the stomach and extremely stressed. The ordeal was described by [one woman] as an ‘awful and terrifying moment’.”
Security and police swooped as Postle returned to the sports store days later – he was wearing the same clothes.
Postle was held for only three days until he was released on bail, again, by a Local Court magistrate.
He would remain out of custody until October – and in that time was accused of two more sickening acts.
CCTV captured him at Thirroul on September 24 wearing a mesh singlet and white linen pants, underwear visible, on a peak hour train.
He tried to get the attention of an 18-year-old woman, who ignored him. Postle allegedly stared straight at her and began to masturbate. She was “horrified” and in fear, and reported him to police.
The court heard on Friday that Postle was pleading not guilty to the charges, including stalking and intimidation, and obscene exposure in a public place.
Then, on October 4, CCTV in his Waterloo unit block captured him masturbating in the public area near the lifts.
Postle was on bail for seven charges by that stage and police warned the courts he was “escalating in nature and frequency”.
They warned he would allegedly “continue to commit sexual offences” unless on strict bail conditions.
“[Postle] has absolutely no regard for his actions or accountability, which may also be a result of mental health issues that remain untreated or unmedicated,” the police documents read.
Through October, he was in and out of police cells, accused of failing to attend mandated mental health meetings.
Prosecutors on Friday told the Downing Centre Local Court that Postle needed to be forced into treatment because there is a “sexual aspect to the majority of offences and that may pose a significant risk to the community”.
Defence lawyer Heidi Heathcote argued Postle needed to be released for assessment, which wasn’t available in custody, so he could ask the court to dismiss the charges under mental health laws.
“I’m going to be compliant with any medical conditions, and I’ve had an injection today which would cover me for the next month,” Postle told the court.
Postle said he would see a counsellor and had a “relapse prevention plan”.
The matters were adjourned until June 20 at Downing Centre Local Court, when Postle’s lawyers are expected to apply for his charges to be dealt with under mental health legislation.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.