Australia's then Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her partner Tim Mathieson in 2010

The ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard could have faced up to 10 years behind bars if original charges of stalking had not been dropped. 

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Tim Mathieson was charged with two counts of stalking amid accusations he entered a woman’s home without her permission. 

The alleged offence supposedly came just a day after Mathieson sucked the nipple of a woman without her consent in the very same suburb. 

On Thursday, Mathieson – known during Ms Gillard’s reign as Australia’s ‘first bloke’ – appeared via videolink in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court.

His barrister indicated that Mathieson would plead guilty to a single offence of sexual assault.

That plea was on the provision the Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions drop the as then unnamed stalking charges.  

Tim Mathieson, the ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard, is set to plead guilty to a sexually assaulting a woman. He is pictured with Ms Gillard in 2010

Tim Mathieson, the ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard, is set to plead guilty to a sexually assaulting a woman. He is pictured with Ms Gillard in 2010

Tim Mathieson, the ex-partner of former prime minister Julia Gillard, is set to plead guilty to a sexually assaulting a woman. He is pictured with Ms Gillard in 2010

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Victoria Police’s Sexual Offences and Child-abuse Investigation Team charged Mathieson with stalking over allegations he entered a woman’s Brunswick East address on March 14 last year. 

Detectives also alleged Mathieson stalked a Brunswick East woman from December 2 last year up until February 14 this year by harassing her over the phone. 

Mathieson was eventually charged on May 23 by the Fawkner SOCIT unit. 

Both stalking charges were withdrawn by prosecutors on Thursday in part of a plea deal that will see the former hairdresser admit to one count of sexual assault. 

Court documents released to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday outlined Mathieson’s offending.

The charge stated Mathieson ‘intentionally sexually touched [the victim] by sucking her nipple without her consent in circumstances where the accused did not reasonably believe that [the victim] consented to the touching.’

Further details of that sexual assault remain unknown, with further explosive details expected to be aired when the matter returns to court next month. 

Mathieson’s barrister Brad Penno told the court his client would plead at his next appearance if prosecutors went through with its plans to withdraw the other charges. 

‘It is resolvable on the basis Mr Mathieson will plead guilty to charge one on the basis that charges two and three be withdrawn,’ he said.  

‘If that’s accurate I’d expect the prosecution to make an application along those lines,’ he said. 

Mr Penno said he hoped to have Mathieson dealt with via the court’s diversion program.  

Under Victorian law, diversion plans are often handed down to first-time offenders and are designed not to impact on a person’s life going forward.

Under the diversion plan, Mathieson would not be required to formally plead to the charges and instead simply make admissions to the charged offences.

Tim Mathieson is accused of intentionally touching the woman's nipple without her consent at Brunswick East in Melbourne's inner-city on March 13 last year

Tim Mathieson is accused of intentionally touching the woman's nipple without her consent at Brunswick East in Melbourne's inner-city on March 13 last year

Tim Mathieson is accused of intentionally touching the woman’s nipple without her consent at Brunswick East in Melbourne’s inner-city on March 13 last year

Mathieson is pictured leaving his lawyer's office in Melbourne on Thursday

Mathieson is pictured leaving his lawyer's office in Melbourne on Thursday

Mathieson is pictured leaving his lawyer’s office in Melbourne on Thursday 

‘If the diversion is on the table it would need to return to a diversion hearing,’ Mr Penno said. 

A Crown Prosecutor agreed to withdraw two of the three charges on-the-spot, but would not commit to supporting Mathieson’s request to be dealt with via diversion until it had been discussed with his alleged victim. 

‘The short answer is … we need more time to make inquiries and come to a decision whether in fact a diversion is appropriate,’ he said. 

Stalking in Victoria carries a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars. 

Dressed in a suit and tie, Mathieson sat quietly behind a desk at the rear of his barrister’s office on Thursday and made no comment throughout the hearing. 

He was later made to make an embarrassing dash to his vehicle before a rabid media pack alone after Mr Penno abandoned him in his office building. 

Mathieson lived with Ms Gillard in the Lodge in Canberra when she was Prime Minister, but Gillard revealed in early 2022 that the couple had split up some time earlier. 

Should the matter not be dealt with via diversion, Mathieson would be forced to enter a formal plea, which could result in him being convicted of the crime and face a far more severe penalty. 

Mathieson had been a hairdresser when he hooked-up with Ms Gillard in 2004.

He has three children, with daughter Sherri Mathieson once appearing on television reality show The Bachelor. 

Tim Mathieson (right) has indicated he will admit to being a sex offender

Tim Mathieson (right) has indicated he will admit to being a sex offender

Tim Mathieson (right) has indicated he will admit to being a sex offender 

Mathieson was photographed leaving his lawyer's office on Thursday

Mathieson was photographed leaving his lawyer's office on Thursday

Mathieson was photographed leaving his lawyer’s office on Thursday  

Tim Mathieson and Julia Gillard in happier times.

Tim Mathieson and Julia Gillard in happier times.

Tim Mathieson and Julia Gillard in happier times. 

After Ms Gillard became Prime Minister in 2010, the pair became the first unmarried couple to live at The Lodge until she was toppled in a leadership spill in 2013.

Mathieson frequently accompanied the Prime Minister on engagements within Australia and on her official overseas trips.

During his time as prime ministerial spouse, Mathieson undertook voluntary work for Kidney Health Australia, Indigenous Diabetes Association and mental health group Beyond Blue.

He was also patron of the Australian Men’s Shed Association, dedicated to encouraging men to meet and discuss problems in a comfortable environment.

Ms Gillard told the Adelaide Advertiser in March this year that she had split with Mathieson more than a year ago, after a decade and a half together.

Despite declaring in 2011 that he wished to wed Ms Gillard, the couple never married.

 

 

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