ADF member Caleb Horner accused of grooming and sexually abusing 12-year-old boy

An Australian Defence Force member is facing dozens of child abuse charges, including raping a young boy after grooming him on social media.

WARNING: Graphic content

A Perth-based member of the Australian Defence Force has appeared in a Victorian court after he was extradited from Western Australia following allegations of child sexual abuse.

Caleb Horner is accused of grooming a 12-year-old boy on social media before abusing him.

Court documents reveal he faces 44 charges relating to the same victim, including sexual penetration of a child younger than 16.

Mr Horner is also accused of sexually touching the child, producing child abuse material, forcing the child to put his hands down his pants, touching the child’s groin while driving and masturbating in front of him.

His lawyers told the court that their client denied the allegations.

Caleb Horner did not apply for bail when the matter was heard in court on Friday. Picture: Instagram

According to court documents, Mr Horner initially contacted the child in 2018.

Police earlier alleged Mr Horner’s alleged victim tried to block him before he reconnected with him two years later.

The charges relate to alleged incidents between February and April 2020.

The 36-year-old was arrested at his base in November last year and was kept in custody until he was flown to Victoria.

Mr Horner has been charged with 44 offences. Picture: Instagram

He remains behind bars and did not apply for bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Lawyers for Mr Horner argued that his age should be suppressed, but the magistrate rejected that request.

Mr Horner’s matter will return to court on March 17.

Originally published as ADF member Caleb Horner accused of grooming and sexually abusing 12-year-old boy