Accused Grindr predator Francis Muscat granted home detention bail, charged with grooming a 15yo boy for sex acts

A 53-year-old man is accused of grooming a child on a dating app and meeting up with him for sex acts despite knowing his age, a court has heard.

Francis Muscat. Picture: Facebook

An alleged dating app predator is accused of sex acts with a 15-year-old boy despite knowing his age, a court has heard.

Francis Muscat, 53, was granted home detention bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court this week, after allegedly telling police he knew what he was doing was wrong.

A prosecutor opposed all forms of bail, saying it was an “extremely strong” case against Mr Muscat and he presented a significant risk to the alleged victim as he knew where he lived.

The court heard Mr Muscat allegedly met the 15-year-old boy on the dating site Grindr in March and they began messaging, including exchanging naked photographs.

The prosecutor said the alleged victim sent a text to Mr Muscat saying: “I want to let you know that I’m 15, is that OK to keep talking? I’m on the way to school”.

Mr Muscat allegedly replied: “That’s OK, appreciate you being honest. I’m OK with that as long as you are OK with me”.

The prosecutor said Mr Muscat allegedly picked the child up on April 6 and took him back to his house at Wingfield, where sexual acts occurred.

The court heard the alleged victim attended the police station with his parents in late April after they found sexualised conversations on his phone.

The prosecutor said Mr Muscat made full admissions to police in an interview after he was arrested.

“The accused stated that what he was doing was wrong,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard Mr Muscat had allegedly sent the boy photos of his face, as well as his car and address linking him to the alleged offending.

Mr Muscat, of Paralowie, is charged with procuring a child for sexual activity, gross indecency and indecent assault. He is yet to enter any pleas.

Stephen Ey, for Mr Muscat, told the court his client had no prior criminal history and a supportive family.

“There is evidence that he (the alleged victim) has been offering himself to a number of gentlemen, there are other charges in relation to other defendants before the court,” he said.

Mr Ey said Mr Muscat wanted to be bailed to his mother’s address so he could care for her as she had dementia.

The court heard the bail address was only 200m away from a school.

Despite Magistrate Brian Nitschke agreeing it was a strong case against Mr Muscat, he granted him home detention bail.

He banned him from possessing any device with internet access and ordered he not contact the alleged victim or engage in any child related work.

The charges were adjourned until October.