He is also accused of assaulting three officers after witnesses called police to alert them to the alleged sexual assault. The bus stop where the alleged attack took place. Credit:Ben Rushton The attack took place only a short distance from where Mr Leary had been ordered to live as part of his parole conditions. Attorney-General Greg Smith said the State Parole Authority immediately revoked Leary's parole upon learning of the alleged breach on Thursday morning. Mr Smith said the convicted killer was paroled in August last year, after being refused parole on six occasions between 2005 and 2010. The man's 15-year non-parole period expired on January 13, 2005. The victim of the alleged bus stop attack was punched and stabbed by Leary, who then attempted to undress her and rape her, police said.

A passing motorist, who saw the woman being attacked, called triple-0 and tried to help her. The woman had allegedly been dragged to the ground and stabbed in the shoulder with a pocket knife. Leary was allegedly attempting to pull off the woman's clothes when police arrived at the bus stop on Alexandra Street, which is located next to Hunters Hill Public School near the intersection with Stanley Road. Officers say they were forced to use capsicum spray and Taser Leary, who allegedly lashed out at police when they tried to arrest him. A probationary constable was allegedly punched in the face during the confrontation. The woman and officer were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

The woman suffered a punctured lung, a fractured cheekbone and bruising, and remained in hospital on Thursday. The officer received two stitches for a cut to his lip and was later released from hospital. A NSW Police spokeswoman said the woman was simply waiting at the bus stop when she was allegedly set upon by Leary, whom she did not know. The spokeswoman said Leary had initially approached the woman and struck up a conversation with her before allegedly assaulting her. The woman fought back and screamed but was allegedly stabbed in the shoulder, before the passing motorist intervened. Neighbours also heard the woman's screams and rushed outside to help.

Police cordoned off the bus shelter on Wednesday night and examined the area forensically. Leary was taken to Ryde police station where he was charged with inflicting actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse, reckless wounding and assaulting police causing actual bodily harm. He did not appear in court when the matter was briefly mentioned on Thursday afternoon. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused. Leary will remain in jail until the matter is next heard in August. 1990 murder

Ms Hoson's near-naked body was found dumped in a car park, and had severe and multiple head injuries. Leary told police he broke into the sleeping woman's home to have sex, but when she refused, he hit her with a hammer. He was jailed for up to 24 years by a Supreme Court judge, who also set a minimum term of 15 years behind bars. Leary was "a danger to the community" and should not be released during the maximum term of 24 years unless assessments showed he was no longer dangerous, the judge said. The judge also found the then-24-year-old suffered an abnormal personality, had consumed alcohol and probably smoked marijuana when he attacked Ms Hoson.

Leary changed his plea to guilty on the 11th day of his trial. The court heard Leary had gone to the Hoson family house on January 14, 1990 after drinking a large amount of alcohol at a party earlier in the evening. He knew her as "no more than an acquaintance" but climbed a ladder into the house, and after Ms Hoson refused him sex, he repeatedly bashed her on the head with a hammer before removing her clothes and sexually assaulting her. The judge said a life sentence was not appropriate because of his disturbed state of mind. Out on parole

Mr Smith said Leary's 15-year non-parole period expired on January 13, 2005. He was paroled in August last year, after being refused parole on six different occasions between 2005 and 2010. "He had served 22½ years of a 24-year sentence; he had almost seven months remaining on his balance of parole,” Mr Smith said in a statement. “The State Parole Authority [SPA] originally decided to grant parole after considering submissions from the Serious Offenders Review Council and the victim’s family.” He said the SPA had immediately revoked Leary's parole upon learning of the alleged breach on Thursday morning.

“In light of recent events in Victoria, last week I asked Corrective Services NSW for a review of the handling of serious sex offenders on parole. This review has now been widened to include the handling of serious offenders whose offence had a sexual component,” he said. This year, he also had asked the Law Reform Commission to review the parole system to see how it could be done better. "This will be a detailed and broad review," Mr Smith said. "We are tough on violent offenders and to protect the community we have introduced laws that can keep repeat serious violent offenders in custody or under supervision beyond the end of their sentence," he said. "Laws allowing the detention or extended supervision of serious sex offenders have already existed for several years."

Complied with conditions A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrective Services said Leary's case had regularly been reviewed over his time in custody and until the alleged offence on Wednesday he had complied with all of his supervision conditions. While his previous conviction was for murder, he had undergone sex offender treatment programs in recognition of the sexual nature of his original offence. In addition, he was about to be considered for an Extended Supervision Order under the new High Risk Sex (and Violent) Offender provisions, which can only come into force six months before a full sentence expires. Parole had been granted "after considering a submission from the Serious Offenders Review Council and taking into account representations from the victim’s family".

According to his parole conditions, he was banned from drinking alcohol and taking drugs. He was also ordered to take drug and alcohol tests, undergo psychological assessment and counselling as determined and not to contact the victim’s family. Loading "He was also banned from frequenting or visiting a number of Local Government Areas including the Hills Shire, where the original offence occurred," the spokeswoman said. "The offender was supervised according to the requirements of his parole conditions including receiving urinalysis and breath testing, home visits and regular contact with specialist psychological services. He was also in regular contact with police."