Former Tasmanian doctor Michael Antony Welch remanded over historic child sex allegations

A doctor has appeared in a special sitting of the Hobart Magistrates Court, after being extradited from New South Wales on charges, including child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse generic.

A 64-year-old former medical practitioner has appeared in a special sitting of the Hobart Magistrate Court, after being extradited from New South Wales on historical sex charges, including child sexual abuse.

Michael Antony Welch did not apply for bail when he appeared before a Justice of the Peace in court on Friday’s Anzac Day public holiday, and was remanded in custody.

Michael Antony Welch, 64, charged with three counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault. Picture: supplied

Detectives from Tasmania Police’s Taskforce Artemis have charged Mr Welch with three counts of rape, alleged to have been committed against an 18-year-old complainant in 1993.

The defendant is also facing three counts of indecent assault, alleged to have occurred in 2004 and 2005 against a person aged 15 years old.

The abuse is alleged to have occurred when Mr Welch was a registered medical general practitioner in Tasmania.

It is understood the former doctor graduated from the University of Tasmania’s medical school in 1984.

Tasmania Police said it strongly encouraged anyone with information about any form of sexual abuse, regardless of the passage of time, to come forward and report it.

Mr Welch was remanded to reappear before a magistrate on Monday.

Originally published as Former Tasmanian doctor Michael Antony Welch remanded over historic child sex allegations