1:54p.m. 14th September 2007

| By Rae Wilson

Johannes Petrus Pretorius was found guilty on the third day of a trial last month for three counts of sexual assault.

A Maroochydore court was on the verge of issuing a warrant for the arrest of a man found guilty of indecently groping three women in the surf at Alexandra Headland beach on New Year’s Day last year.

The women had testified how a tall man with a hairy back had forced them from the water after touching them inappropriately multiple times during a trial in Maroochydore District Court last week.

Johannes Petrus Pretorius, 46, was found guilty on the third day of a trial for three counts of sexual assault but he fainted while he was being sentenced.

He was taken to hospital in an ambulance and the sentence was adjourned until Tuesday.

But Mr Pretorius did not show up on Tuesday and a letter was handed to the court from a Yeppoon doctor stating he was too sick to travel.

The fact the accused man had been able to return to Yeppoon did not escape the judge who asked him to see a government medical officer before a mention in court today.

Crown prosecutor Anna Smith told the court Mr Pretorius had fronted for an appointment with a GMO in Yeppoon today but became “irritated at having to wait”.

She said he left saying “it doesn’t matter, I’ll catch a plane down there” but he did not appear.

Mr Pretorius’ solicitor said his client had been at the GMO officer from 9am to 4pm before becoming fed up with waiting and was at the office again this morning.

“He’s not dodging the issue, your honour,” he said.

But Judge John Robertson said he was not satisfied and asked for affidavits to prove the man’s story.

He said it seemed Mr Pretorius was avoiding the issue and he would consider issuing a warrant for his arrest this afternoon.

“It’s got to come to a conclusion,” he said.

“If Mr Pretorius won’t come here willingly then I’ll have to force him.”

When the court reconvened after lunch, the judge was satisfied with a fax he had received from a government medical officer.

He adjourned the sentence to the next call over and extended Mr Pretorius’ bail.

“This is unfortunate from everyone’s point of view but there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.

It is believed Mr Pretorius needs to see a cardiologist for his heart condition.