Rowan Varnish charged with engaging in at least two ‘unlawful sexual acts’ with child under 17

A Mawson Lakes man who allegedly maintained an unlawful sexual relationship with a minor under 14 has fronted court.

A Mawson Lakes man allegedly engaged in at least two “unlawful sexual acts” with a minor, a charge sheet lodged with the Elizabeth Magistrates Court reveals.

Rowan Varnish, 32, appeared in court by video link on Tuesday morning.

He is charged with maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and a basic count of communicating to make a child amenable to a sexual activity.

Varnish allegedly maintained the relationship with a child under the age of 17 between October 1 last year and March 1 this year at Brahma Lodge and other locations, the sheet revealed.

This allegedly occurred through engaging in two or more unlawful sexual acts with or towards the victim.

Rowan Varnish is accused of maintaining a sexual relationship with a minor. Picture: Facebook

Police also claim Varnish made a communication for a “prurient purpose with the intention of making (the alleged victim) amenable to sexual activity”, over the same period, in Brahma Lodge and other locations.

“Rowan Varnish committed the offence knowing (the alleged victim) was under the age of 14 years at the time of the offence,” it read.

Both are major indictable offences.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Brian Nitschke granted Varnish home detention bail but said he could not engage in, or apply for, child-related work.

He also said the alleged victim was “quite vulnerable”.

He ordered that Varnish have no contact with anybody under the age of 18 by “electronic means” and surrender his passport.

Varnish will next appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in July.