A respite worker charged with six counts of indecent assault against two children in his care has been granted conditional bail.
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The 69-year-old man, who cannot be named, faced Newcastle Local Court on Thursday after his arrest at a Hunter home on Wednesday afternoon.
Police allege the man indecently assaulted two girls - a six-year-old and an 11-year-old - who were in his care on several occasions in 2018.
The prosecution opposed the man's application for bail, saying there was an "unacceptable risk" of further offending and fleeing the jurisdiction, labelling the charges "very serious".
Read more: Police and court news
The man's defence lawyer Daniel Lewis told the court that his client denied the allegations.
Magistrate David Price granted bail on the condition that the man surrender his passport, report weekly to police and that he not be alone in the company of any person under the age of 18 - or have anyone under 18 at his home.
"It is my view that there are very few, if any, risks with [the man] given his age and his lack of criminal history," Magistrate Price said.
The matter was adjourned to Toronto Local Court on April 14.
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