Christopher James McCann, former Commonwealth Bank executive charged with procuring underage girls for sex, dies
A former banking executive facing charges of procuring underage girls for sex at a hotel has been found dead.
Breaking News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A former Commonwealth Bank executive facing charges of trying to procure underage girls for sex has been found dead, police have confirmed.
Christopher James McCann was charged with a single count of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act and faced court earlier this week.
He was granted bail on Monday to reappear on August 4.
In a statement, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said: “A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday (Wednesday).”
Mr McCann was sacked from his job and had his accounts frozen after his arrest, a court was told on Monday.
He sat in Brisbane Arrests Court – days after his arrest by NSW detectives at the Sydney Airport terminal – as he applied for bail.
Despite magistrate Louise Shepherd acknowledging the seriousness of the charge, Mr McCann’s lawyer David Jones KC criticised the police’s material in objecting to bail as “unprofessional” and engaging in “fortune telling”.
Both Mr McCann and his co-accused, 18-year-old Shauntelle Elizabeth Went, walked from Brisbane Watch House on Monday afternoon with strict bail conditions.
Mr McCann did not comment to waiting media as he left the building with a bowed head and entered a nearby car.
Ms Went was supported by a man, who appeared to clash with one reporter while escorting the 18-year-old from the court precinct.
The OnlyFans creator then turned and made a rude hand gesture as she walked off.
The pair were facing a single count each of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act.
Neither entered any pleas.
On Monday, the court was told police alleged Mr McCann – a married father of two who travelled frequently interstate – had formed a “connection” with Ms Went, a sex worker.
It is further alleged Mr McCann was organising to use her services while in Brisbane in May but queried if she had any “younger friends” she worked with.
“You made an arrangement and agreed on a price to use Ms Went’s services and that of two underage girls,” Ms Shepherd said in her summary of the police allegations.
The teen girls, aged 14 and 15, and Ms Went allegedly attended the Sofitel Hotel, but Ms Shepherd said it was not alleged the girls went up to Mr McCann’s room.
The court was told Mr McCann was no longer employed by Commonwealth Bank as a result of the charges.
His financial accounts had also been frozen by detectives.
Police opposed Mr McCann’s bail, claiming there was a risk of further offending and general safety to the community.
Ms Shepherd granted Mr McCann bail – ordering him to report to police once a week, not to drink or use illicit drugs and be subject to drug testing.
He was also ordered to possess only one phone.
Ms Went was also granted bail during an application before Ms Shepherd.
The court was told Ms Went was receiving a disability support pension and received money through her OnlyFans account, but she did not perform in-person sex work.
Both Mr McCann and Ms Went were due to return to court on August 4.
Originally published as Christopher James McCann, former Commonwealth Bank executive charged with procuring underage girls for sex, dies
Labor leader’s election gamble in doubt
Tasmania’s Dean Winter’s election gamble does not look like it is paying off, with the Labor leader trailing in his own seat of Franklin.
Read more
Move to stamp out ‘unfair’ pay practice
The government is looking to stamp out an “unfair” business move which is leaving workers on penalty rates worse off.
Read more