A 53-year-old Gwelup man is due to face Perth Magistrates Court today (29 November) charged with indecently assaulting three teenage girls.
Detectives from the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) allege the man committed the offences while supervising the girls during an official trip in September 2018.
A complaint was made earlier this year about the man’s alleged behaviour, sparking a police investigation.
WA JACET detectives arrested the man last week and he is due to face Perth Magistrates Court for the first time today, charged with:
• three counts of indecent dealings with a child aged over-16 by a person in a position of authority, contrary to section 322(4) of the Criminal Code Compilation Act 1913 (WA).
The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Timothy Underhill said the investigation and prosecution of anyone who targeted vulnerable children in their care with this form of abhorrent offending was a high priority for the AFP, regardless of when the alleged conduct took place.
“It is the responsibility of the entire community to ensure the safety of our children is safeguarded,” Det. Supt Underhill said.
The WA-JACET comprises officers from the Australian Federal Police and the WA Police Force.
The Joint Anti Child Exploitation Teams across the country are Australia’s frontline in tackling, disrupting and prosecuting this insidious industry that causes significant harm to the most vulnerable in our community – our children.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child sexual abuse are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
