Step-daughter, girl next door allegedly abused by man extradited from Coffs Harbour

CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged child abuse.

While a man accused of sexually abusing his step-daughter and a girl who lived next door in the ACT could live at a family member’s home in NSW if he were released from custody, he has been refused bail for the second time.

The magistrate’s main reason for refusing bail was that he did not know who lives next door in the NSW home.

The man, now aged in his 30s but who legally cannot be named to prevent the two girls from being identified, faces nine charges accusing him of sexually or indecently abusing his 14-year-old step-daughter and an 11-year-old girl who lived next door.

It is also alleged he exchanged phone numbers with the 11-year-old and they sent messages to each other.

On 5 December, 2024, police received a report of sexual assaults allegedly committed by the man against a child in his care between 2018 and 2020, an ACT Policing spokesperson said.

Police began an investigation and on 14 December, more allegations of sexual assault were made by the second child.

“Police allege the man sexually assaulted the second child on several occasions between September and November 2024,” the police spokesperson said.

The man was arrested in Coffs Harbour, in northern NSW, on 19 December and extradited to the ACT the next day.

He was refused bail and spent about a month in custody before applying for it again in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (21 January).

His lawyer, Nathan Deakes from Legal Aid, said while the allegations were serious, they remained allegations, and his client had not spoken to either of the girls after they came to light.

His client had told him that after the allegations were made, his ex-partner asked him to leave their home, so he travelled to Coffs Harbour to be with a family member.

Mr Deakes said his client hadn’t been charged at that stage so thought he could leave the Territory.

However, the prosecutor, who opposed bail, said the man had been well aware that the allegations were being investigated and there was a prospect of charges when he left the ACT, as police had searched his home by then.

The prosecutor also noted the alleged “predatory nature and manipulation involved in taking advantage of these two vulnerable children”.

Mr Deakes proposed for his client to live with a different family member in another part of NSW, which would reduce the risk of him contacting witnesses.

However, Magistrate Glenn Theakston said the allegations of offending against a step-daughter and girl next door raised concerns of the man offending against any child.

“We don’t know who’s next door, we don’t know who’s down the road,” he said of the proposed address in NSW.

Bail was refused and the man was remanded in custody to March.

The court heard he will enter not guilty pleas to two counts of incest, six counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 16 and one count of committing an act of indecency on a person under 16.

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 or by visiting www.1800respect.org.au. 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.