A bogus fashion designer who escaped jail time after groping young models on photo shoots has been charged for allegedly touching up a woman at his new job.
Shardie Hourani, also known as Shardz Houranis, was embroiled in a social media revolt in 2015 after a number of women came forward with experiences of being sexually violated by him.
Former model Bowie Nash quit the industry after working with fashion photographer Shardie Hourani, who pleaded guilty to indecent assaults of models he worked with in 2015.
Hourani had promoted himself as a fashion designer and budding photographer who would entice aspiring models to photo shoots, predominantly in Sydney's east.
During these shoots he violated several women, including through kissing and groping after promising to pay them at the next photo shoot or gift them bikinis.
As word spread about his behaviour, a Facebook page called "Say No to Sanija Fashion" was established to encourage models to report the abuse.
Hourani was convicted of 14 indecent assault offences in Waverley Local Court in late 2015 but spared any time behind bars.
The Arncliffe man was handed an 18-month suspended jail sentence and a recommendation to undergo sex-offender counselling instead.
However Hourani has found himself in hot water again.
Northern Beaches detectives arrested him at his home on Monday night after a woman came forward alleging he had inappropriately grabbed her at work.
Fairfax Media understands Hourani had been employed as a traffic controller for a south west Sydney-based company in late 2016.
It will be alleged Hourani was working at a site in Frenchs Forest for a few weeks when allegations were made about him indecently touching a co-worker.
He was stood down from his role while police conducted an investigation.
After losing his job, it is understood Hourani had been trying to find out who the woman was that made the complaint.
Police initially received information that between four and five women working for the traffic control company had been targeted.
However Hourani was only charged with one count of assault with an act of indecency committed against one woman on November 21.
If convicted, Hourani would be forced to serve out the 18-month suspended jail term for the eastern suburbs indecent assaults on top of whatever penalty he received for the most recent alleged assault.
According to facts tendered in his 2015 case, Hourani met three of his four victims through his Facebook page, Sanija Fashion, before assaulting them between 2011 and April 2015.
One woman told police at the time Hourani had asked her breast size before groping her.
"Sorry, honey, just trying to see what size breasts you have," he said, according to the police facts.
"You need to let your guard down if we are going to work together," Hourani told her. "You need to be comfortable."
To another woman on a photo shoot he said: "Pretend you are having sex and pull a face as if you are, that's how I want you to pose".
Hourani was refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday.
