A man charged for allegedly peeping on a 13-year-old in a public toilet block remains in custody after entering a plea of not guilty at Manly Court yesterday, 5 March 2026.
Philip Somerset was arrested at Collaroy pool late last year, 29 December 2025, after the 62-year-old is alleged to have earlier spied on the child over a toilet cubicle at Middle Creek Reserve, off Wakehurst Parkway at Narrabeen Lagoon, Cromer.
The teen sought help from his father who confronted Somerset, who subsequently fled the scene. Multiple witnesses reported seeing the unusual event unfold, the court heard.
The man was later arrested and charged with observe person in private act without consent to obtain sexual arousal (aggravated) and stalk or intimidate intending to cause fear of physical or mental harm, to which he pleaded not guilty. Following his initial arrest, he was released on police bail, but was arrested and placed into custody on 15 January after breaching its conditions.
Somerset appeared before Manly Court yesterday, 5 March 2026, via Audio Visual Link (AVL). Since being in custody, the man was taken to hospital on four different occasions for issues involving his heart, calling for several adjournments.
The defence argued Somerset should be released on conditional bail, stating “no offences were committed under the cover of darkness,” and that he posed no threat to public safety, with no evidence to suggest he intended to obtain sexual arousal.
It was also contended his high blood pressure, anxiety, and numerous recent health procedures relating to his heart were cause for bail.
Magistrate Daniel Reiss was not convinced pointing out – though the defendant previously stated residencies at Castlecrag and Palm Beach – he currently did not have an address listed on his bail application. While the defence argued it was not uncommon for bail to be granted to people with no fixed address, Magistrate Reiss said this was not an isolated factor and believed the nature of his alleged offences needed be further considered.
Somerset was refused bail as it was seen as an “unacceptable risk.”
“Oh f###,” Somerset could be heard saying over the AVL upon hearing the news.
The man, known to frequent the Northern Beaches area, is also before the court on un-related offences.
He has pleaded guilty to driving without a licence last year, 30 December 2025, on Dee Why Parade, with police stating in court documents he was pulled over ten days prior with the same offence, the offender stating at the time “I didn’t know.”
He has also pleaded not guilty for allegedly providing fake details dishonestly to obtain a financial advantage to wit $4130 of hotel accommodation in Terrey Hills, between December 2025 and January 2026. Following this, an additional charge was laid for ‘resist or hinder a Constable executing his duty,’ during his ensuing arrest at the hotel on 15 January.
Somerset will appear again in Manly Local Court on 12 March, 2026.
