Sydney banker on grooming charges found dead south of Brisbane

A Sydney-based banker who was charged with grooming underage girls for sex has been found dead on the Gold Coast hinterland, two days after he was released from a Brisbane cell on bail.

Christopher James McCann appeared in Brisbane Arrest Court on Monday, charged with one count of using the internet to procure children aged under 16.

McCann, a former Commonwealth Bank executive, had been extradited to Queensland last Thursday, following his arrest by New South Wales police.

Christopher James McCann leaving the Brisbane Watch House on Monday. He was found dead two days later.Credit: AAPIMAGE

McCann, who had no prior criminal record, was released under strict bail conditions, which included living in Queensland during the court proceedings, an overnight curfew and being limited to one mobile phone with no encrypted applications.

At the bail hearing, Magistrate Louise Shephard told McCann he was accused of a “terribly serious offence” by allegedly engaging Brisbane sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went, 18, to supply the services of two girls aged 14 or 15.

“You travelled interstate frequently. You formed some kind of connection with [Went]. On May 14 police intercepted messages between you and she.

“The allegation is you ... queried her about whether she had younger friends that she worked with.”

Shephard said McCann was accused of making an arrangement and agreeing on price to use Went’s services alongside two underage girls.

“Later in the evening Went and the girls attended [a Brisbane CBD five-star hotel],” Shephard said.

“The two girls went to the room and you contacted the front desk to ask them to leave. It is not alleged the girls entered the room.”

The court heard the matter was referred by NSW Police to Queensland Police’s child exploitation unit, Task Force Argos, who executed a search warrant on McCann’s home.

Went was also granted bail on Monday. The charges were set to be mentioned in court again on August 4.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman confirmed the death was not being treated as suspicious and urged people to seek help if they were distressed.

“A report will be prepared for the coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday,” the spokeswoman said.

Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.

With AAP