Man charged with bus sex attack in Sydney's inner west 'danger to community'

A man charged over a sex attack on a 17-year-old girl in Sydney has been dubbed a “danger to the community” by a prosecutor who denied him bail to go home for Christmas.

Timothy Palmer, 53, is accused of approaching the teenager at a Caltex service station at Marrickville and following her onto a bus yesterday.

While onboard he sat next to her and allegedly touched her thigh while pleasuring himself.

Fellow passengers called police and got off at the same stop on Cook Road and directed officers to arrest him.

One Marrickville resident said: “It's a bit disturbing that it's happening in broad daylight and in an area with a lot of people around as well”.

Parramatta Local Court was told today Palmer has already done jail time for stalking and intimidating and that he’s likely to serve another sentence due to the overwhelming evidence against him.

Palmer’s behaviour was described by the prosecutor as calculated and predatory and he’ll remain behind bars until at least his next appearance on January 7.