Daniel Cassidy-Fitzpatrick sexually assault a woman in Melbourne street
Man who tried to abduct woman in Hawthorn stalked her before attacking:
A court heard descriptions of the man suspected of attempting to kidnap a woman during a late-night assault while walking along Melbourne Street
A Melbourne man accused of attempting to kidnap a woman in a late-night assault has a string of mental health problems, his lawyer told a court.
Kew man Daniel Cassidy-Fitzpatrick is charged with harassment, attempted kidnapping, deliberate harm, reckless injury, false imprisonment and sexual assault.
The 30-year-old man has anxiety, depression, and autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed, defense lawyer Oliver Smith told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Mr Smith said his client had never been in detention before and medical health professionals urgently needed to assess him, but he was not on any medication.
Mr Cassidy-Fitzpatrick emerged from a Melbourne police station, but was not visible.
His court appearance follows a week-long search for a man caught in CCTV in the suspected attempted abduction.
Mr Cassidy-Fitzpatrick is accused of being the guy who grabbed from behind a 25-year-old woman as she walked along Burwood Road in Hawthorn at 1.13am on November 22.
Detective Inspector Juliann Goldrick said it was reported that the woman's attacker put on a ski mask or balaclava and waited for the woman to walk past him in Henry Lane.
She alleged a man lunged and caught her, attempting to pull her back onto Henry Lane.
The woman yelled, resisted, and then bit her attacker, putting his hand over her mouth. The bite forced him to let go and she got away.
Inspector Goldrick said the woman was "shaken" and "petrified" by the incident, but escaped without any physical harm.
"What she did was very brave," said Inspector Goldrick.
Police will say the woma was followed about 20 minutes before the attack.
Area patrols to help reassure community safety after confirmed assault.
Mr Cassidy-Fitzpatrick appears in court in February.