NSW detectives have extradited a man from Western Australia following investigations into the historical alleged sexual abuse of young boys in Sydney and the state’s Northern Tablelands more than 30 years ago.
In 2013, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Holbeach to investigate reports of alleged historical child sexual abuse.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for a 75-year-old man, who was now known to be residing in Western Australia.
He was arrested with the assistance of Western Australia Police Force at Wooroloo on Tuesday (26 April 2022).
Strike force detectives applied for and were granted his extradition to NSW at Perth Magistrate’s Court later that day.
He was escorted by detectives on a flight to Sydney the following day, then taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with 58 offences, including;
- Indecent assault on male (x14)
- sexual assault (Cat 3) knowing no consent given (x6)
- sexual assault (Cat 4) – assault and commit act of indecency (x7)
- attempt homosexual intercourse with male above 10 and less than 18 years (x2)
- sexual assault (Cat 4) – assault and indecent act above 10 and less than 16 years (x24), and,
- sexual assault (Cat 3) – person under 16 years of age (x5).
Police will allege in court the man sexual assaulted numerous young boys while working as a therapist and counsellor at schools and youth centres in Sydney and the New England region in the 1970s and 1980s.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Central Local Court today (Thursday 28 April 2022), where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on Thursday 19 May 2022.
Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty, said reporting past sexual abuse can be difficult, and praised the bravery of survivors who came forward.
“Detectives will always thoroughly investigate allegations of sexual violence and bring those responsible to justice irrespective of the passage of time,” Det Supt Doherty said.
“Police never discount the length of time between an alleged offence occurring and a report being made, and a robust criminal investigation will always follow.
“Historical matters often provide investigators with invaluable sources of information about other victims or offences, and I thank those who came forward in this matter for doing so,” Det Supt Doherty said.
