The Sydney designer who just pleaded guilty to assaulting his models.

A bogus NSW-based “fashion designer” has pleaded guilty to assaulting four bikini models.

“[He would] get up very close, right up against your body, and grab your hips, and arse, and your chest.”

“He called me a ‘stupid fat slut’.”

“[If] I didn’t kiss him back then he would be angry… [he] grabbed my hand and made me touch his erected penis.”

Those are just some of the catalogue of allegations made by models, some as young as 16, against a Sydney man claiming to be a club promoter and fashion designer.

And now, after a Facebook campaign to expose his sleazy operation, Shardie “Shardz” Houranis has pleaded guilty to 14 indecent assault charges against four of his models at Waverley Local Court.

Sydney Morning Herald reports the 31-year-old met three of his victims through his Facebook page Sanija Fashion.

He promised to pay these young women for photo shoots or to give them high-quality bikinis for their work. But instead of reimbursing them, he forced the women into swimsuits that were too small, mocked their looks, groped their bodies and became angry when they rejected his advances.

One woman told, A Current Affair in an episode screened earlier this year that he 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,” he added. “You need to be comfortable.”

Another woman alleged in a Facebook post that Houranis “touched me inappropriately, tried kissing me and told me if I didn’t kiss him back then he would be angry … grabbed my hand and made me touch his erected penis!”

Another young model took to her own blog to document how uncomfortable she was made to feel by Houranis’s alleged advances.

“Our conversations were becoming frequent and compelling and quickly became unprofessional,” she claimed. “He began making advances via text message with the attempt of organising dates and telling me we were getting married.”

Model Dani Dent told A Current Affair that Houranis kissed her on a shoot put she pushed him away.

“He got very angry with me and very aggressive, because I told him to back off,” Dent said.

A Facebook campaign fronted by models Tayla Novelli, 22, and Tia Wright, 20, was set up earlier this year to highlight Houranis’ assaults. The two young women created a public Facebook page, ‘Say NO to Sanija Fashion’, that encouraged other models to report the abuse and post images of models being touched by Houranis.

“WARNING ALL LADIES. Sanija Fashion is not a nice brand/person to work with,” Wright posted on the page in June.

“He is not trained in modeling or fashion or photography. This label is very digrading [sic] for women and none of hte many girls that have come from this label have been treated respectfully. Girls please be careful.”

In a bid to warn other girls of the alleged actions of Houranis, Ms Wright also spoke to Fairfax Media earlier this year, claiming “There were numerous times where he put his hands into my top, felt my boobs, and said ‘Yes, size B.’

“He’d yell at me and the other models, and get up very close, right up against your body, and grab your hips, and arse, and your chest and twist your body into poses.”

Harounis was soon arrested in June at a men’s clothing store where he works as a salesman, and charged with five charges of assault with act of indecency.

While he still awaits sentencing, his victims continue to suffer — with some having quit their chosen profession after suffering Harounis’ abuse.

“As a result of these offences, the victims are still quite upset and some have decided never to work in the modelling industry,” the police fact sheet reports.

But Ms Wright is pleased that Harounis’ abuse has finally been brought to light.

“I’m glad that he’s getting what he deserves, and I hope no one else ever has to go through what we did”, she told Daily Mail Australia.

Harounis remains on bail and will return to court for sentencing on December 15.

If you need help, please phone the National Sexual Assault Counselling Service on 1800 737 732.