A CASTLEMAINE man allegedly stalked a woman and her teenage daughter around a store while masturbating, a court has heard.
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Thomas Alexander Bell, 35, appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday after he was charged with offences including stalking and possessing child abuse material.
Police alleged Mr Bell followed the woman and her 13-year-old daughter around the Castlemaine Kmart store on June 26 last year.
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The court heard the 35-year-old left the store and allegedly waited outside, leaning against a wall.
The woman and her daughter went into another store when they saw the accused allegedly waiting, before taking a longer route to make a complaint at the police station.
The court heard the alleged incident was captured on CCTV footage, which police viewed.
Mr Bell was arrested in Bendigo on July 2. His mobile phone was seized and he provided his passcode to detectives.
Officers searched the device and allegedly found four images of child abuse material depicting young boys and girls in sexualised poses.
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Police alleged there were also several upskirting images of young girls.
The court heard at the time of the alleged offences, Mr Bell was on bail for other charges.
Lawyer Luke Docherty told the court while the defence did not dispute that the upskirting images were found in Mr Bell's possession, the material did not depict a child.
Mr Docherty said the defence was also disputing that the man performed a sexual act in the presence of a young girl.
The defence lawyer said Mr Bell was willing to plead guilty to a stalking charge.
CCTV footage of the Kmart store was due to be played to the magistrate in a closed court but there were technical issues.
The case was instead adjourned to later this week and Mr Bell was remanded in custody.
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