Phillip Gordon Starling: Man accused of breaking into Tarcoola Beach home, doing lewd act while woman slept

An alleged intruder is accused of breaking into the second-storey of a Tarcoola Beach home and committing a lewd act while a woman slept. The disturbing allegation was aired in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday when 34-year-old Phillip Gordon Starling appeared via video link from Greenough Regional Prison to apply for bail. He is yet to enter pleas to charges of indecent act with intent to insult or offend, attempted aggravated burglary with intent in relation to the Tarcoola Beach incident, and also for separate charges of stealing and five counts of fraud. He pleaded not guilty to giving false details to police in September last year. The court was told that on November 16, Mr Starling approached a home in Tarcoola Beach about 12am after noticing the lights were on inside. Police prosecutor Sgt Paul Burkinshaw said the accused man climbed an external wall onto a balcony located on the second-storey of the home and allegedly began masturbating while a woman was in bed asleep. Sgt Burkinshaw said the alleged victim woke to sounds of moaning, before shouting at Mr Starling to leave and screaming out to housemates for help. When police searched the property, the court was told officers located numerous pieces of clothing allegedly belonging to Mr Starling and forensics were taken. Magistrate Matthew Walton said he was seriously concerned about granting bail to Mr Starling, particularly with the indecent assault allegations and adjourned the matter so bail could be considered at a later date. “The alleged material facts are of such a serious nature . . . (I’m) deeply concerned about bail given this alleged offence,” he said. Mr Starling was remanded in custody to reappear on Thursday, February 22.