Man accused of abusing granddaughter allegedly has 'uncontrollable' interest in children

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged child abuse.

A grandfather accused of repeatedly indecently assaulting his own granddaughter during a ‘game’ allegedly has an “uncontrollable” sexual interest in children, a court has heard.

The 74-year-old, who legally cannot be named to protect the identity of his granddaughter, allegedly abused the five-year-old at his home on multiple occasions between 2023 and 2024.

It was alleged he would play a ‘game’ with the girl, and as part of that ‘game’, he would indecently assault her while putting his hands down her pants.

The girl claimed that happened every time she visited him at his home, the ACT Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday (25 March).

The court also heard that when police raided his home, they seized about 75 DVDs. Of the 30 that have been examined so far, it is alleged 15 contained “hundreds of images of child exploitation material”, Magistrate Ian Temby said.

It is alleged the files had been burnt to the discs between 2010 and 2014.

In addition, police also allegedly found a USB containing an image suspected of being child exploitation material.

The man was arrested in February 2025 and was denied bail when he first faced court. He spent about a month in custody before applying for bail again on Tuesday, where he was also handed an extra charge of possessing child exploitation material.

The man’s lawyer, Rachel Bird from Rachel Bird & Co Solicitors, said her client suffered from extremely poor health, including life-threatening conditions, and she argued there was a good chance he would not live to see a trial if not granted bail.

She also said her client’s wife and another family member had told her it was not possible for the alleged act of indecency to have occurred at the time as the man had mobility issues and had spent part of that year in an extended hospital stay.

Prosecutor James Melloy, when opposing bail, argued that the case for the child abuse material charges was “very strong”, alleging the man had made admissions about possessing one of the seized USBs.

He also alleged the man’s offending had escalated from possessing the material to contact offending against the granddaughter.

“[He is] singularly unable to control his urges, with respect to his sexual interest in children,” Mr Melloy alleged.

“The evidence is overwhelming that this sexual urge is uncontrollable.”

Magistrate Temby ultimately agreed there was no real bail condition that could overcome the risk of him continuing to engage in this alleged kind of behaviour.

He also said while the man “may end his days in custody”, the evidence to lead to that conclusion was “light on”.

There was no evidence his health had deteriorated while he had been in custody, he said.

Bail was refused again. The matter will return to court in May.

The man has indicated pleas of not guilty to one count of committing an act of indecency on a child under 10 and two counts of possessing child exploitation material.

If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.