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Home / New Zealand

McCready presents Ponytail-gate assault case on PM

Lauren Priestley
NZME.·
29 Apr, 2015 02:18 AM2 mins to read

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Wellington accountant Graham McCready. Photo / Richard Robinson

Wellington accountant Graham McCready. Photo / Richard Robinson

Serial litigant Graham McCready said his two daughters were on his mind when he took the first step to call Prime Minister John Key up for his ponytail-pulling antics.

The former accountant presented paperwork for filing on a proposed assault charge against Mr Key at the Auckland District Court this morning.

Mr McCready travelled by bus from Hamilton this morning to personally present the paperwork.

Mr Key made international headlines last week when a blog reported waitress Amanda Bailey had her ponytail tugged by Mr Key on repeated occasions.

McCready alleges a Crimes Act charge of male assaults female, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail.

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He said it was important that all women felt safe in their workplace.

"I've got two daughters myself. The whole point is that there'll be a bunch of middle-aged men who'll think twice before letting their hands wander around the place.

"The consequences of this type of stuff are not trivial. They can be long-lasting."

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A judge would now determine whether sufficient evidence could be brought forward in order to warrant a trial, Mr McCready said.

The paperwork would be officially filed then.

Mr McCready has already filed a sexual harassment complaint with the Human Rights Commission against Mr Key and a code of conduct complaint against two police officers to the Independent Police Authority over the ponytail-pulling incident.

"The job is done. I've done all I can.

Discover more

New Zealand|politics

Ponytail fallout: Global media reaction

23 Apr 03:20 AM
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Will ponytail pull hurt PM?

23 Apr 06:00 AM
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Legal threat over John Key's hair habit

23 Apr 05:00 PM
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PM's hair-pulling has opened ugly can of worms

24 Apr 05:00 PM

"These things belong before the proper authority."

Mr McCready successfully brought former ACT leader John Banks before the courts with one of his private prosecutions.

He said this case was progressing a lot faster than his prosecution against Mr Banks.

Mr McCready has written to waitress Amanda Bailey but has had no direct contact with her, he said.

"To get to this point with John Banks it took a year. This has been one week. It's going well."

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