A man with a history of violent sexual assaults in St. John’s plans to represent himself on the latest charges against him.

30-year-old Stephen Hopkins is accused of following a 17-year-old girl to her Cowan Heights home, forcing his way in, and sexually assaulting her last September.

Hopkins was already a registered sex offender, having been released from jail a couple of months earlier after doing time for attacking female joggers near Confederation Building. He was freed on strict conditions but charged with failing to obey them. He was allowed to remain free while waiting for his court date, during which the Cowan Heights attack occurred.

Hopkins appeared in Supreme Court this morning from the penitentiary by videoconference, fixing his hair and complaining about his chair as he waited for Chief Justice Raymond Whalen to call his case.

That’s when Hopkins told the judge he didn’t see a need for a lawyer, announcing he would be representing himself.

With that, the chief justice delayed setting a trial date, agreeing with the Crown that a case management session would be needed to hash out what will be a very complex trial by judge and jury.

The case itself has been fast-tracked by way of direct indictment, bypassing the usual preliminary inquiry to deal with the matter sooner. That’s reserved for serious cases, such as where the safety of witnesses may be at risk.

Hopkins faces charges of sexual assault, forcible confinement, and threatening the alleged victim. He’s due back in court on May 3 to set a trial date.