Mount Gambier man, 18, charge with rape and child sex crimes met alleged victim online
A South East man bailed to live near his alleged victim following allegations of child sex crimes met her after connecting on social media, a court has heard.
Mount Gambier
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A South East man accused of sexually abusing a child for months initially met his alleged victim via social media, a court has heard.
The 18 year old, who has not been named to protect the identity of the child, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court on Monday with a police prosecutor seeking to alter a condition of his bail.
Despite living nearby the alleged victim the Mount Gambier man was granted home detention bail on six charges in December but has now been banned from contacting children online.
Police prosecutors alleged the man met his alleged victim on Snapchat.
“We know in the original allegations the potential grooming occurred via an online method … we just need to make sure that that loophole is covered in the bail conditions,” the police prosecutor said.
The man’s lawyer Andrew Sim did not oppose these restriction.
At a previous court appearance Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos requested a home detention bail report saying she had lingering fears as his nominated address was “close to the alleged victims house”.
She also raised issues about young people visiting the home.
On Monday, Magistrate Kossiavelos altered the bail restrictions prohibiting the man from contacting or communicating with children via the internet.
He also cannot be in the presence of a child under the age of 18, work in or apply to work in child related work and will be subject to electronic monitoring.
Court documents allege the man maintained an unlawful sexual relationship with a child between July and November.
The accused is also charged with two counts of rape between August and October, two count of sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16 between September and October plus a count of procure the commission by a child of an indecent act.
The man will next front court in May.