Robert Andrew Scott Head pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting multiple young teen boys

A man has pleaded not guilty to the indecent treatment of five boys, as a multi-day trial over the alleged sexual offending begins in Toowoomba District Court.

Robert Andrew Scott leaving the Toowoomba courthouse after pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting multiple young teen boys.

A regional Queensland man has pleaded not guilty to committing 12 sexual crimes against five different teenage boys aged between 14 and 16 years of age.

A Toowoomba District Court was told that Robert Andrew Scott Head allegedly committed the crimes in Queensland across multiple occasions.

Day one

Mr Head’s trial began on Wednesday morning after a jury consisting of eight men and six women were sworn in on May 3.

Sporting a fresh fade and a large orange-hued beard, Mr Head sat in the dock in a blue suit, with his hands clasped together in his lap, while Judge Brad Farr SC spoke to the jury about their obligations.

In her opening address to the jury, Crown prosecutor Emily Coley said it was alleged that Mr Head inappropriately touched the underage boys, asked them to perform and receive sexual acts, and asked for and sent “dick pics”.

Robert Andrew Scott leaving the Toowoomba courthouse after pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting multiple young teen boys.

The most serious allegations levelled against Mr Head, the court was told, was that he non-consensually performed sexual acts on a 15-year-old.

On another occasion, Ms Coley said Mr Head was at a party where he allegedly indecently touched two teenage boys, one of which became ill after drinking “moonshine” supplied by Mr Head.

Ms Coley said it was alleged the first incident at the party occurred after one of the teens left to vomit.

She said Mr Head asked the boy if he wanted to kiss, and after he refused, Mr Head allegedly grabbed onto his penis for a period of time and only let go after someone from the party yelled out to the pair.

Ms Coley said later in the night, another drunk and ill teen left the party and found a place to lay down, which is where he was allegedly startled by Mr Head rubbing his inner thigh and leg.

The teen reported to police he told Mr Head to “piss off,” and went back to the party.

Mr Head is represented by barrister Cecelia Bernardin, with Judge Brad Farr SC presiding over the trial.

Mr Head pleaded not guilty to the following charges; five charges of the indecent treatment of children under the age of 16, three charges of sexual assault, three charges of attempted indecent treatment, and one charge of distributing an intimate image.

Following the opening address from the Crown the court was closed to the public and media, while the alleged sexual assault survivors gave their evidence.

Day three

Following day two of the trial, which was closed to the media while the alleged victims gave their evidence, Judge Farr SC, discontinued four charges, three charges of attempting to unlawfully procure a child under 16 to commit an indecent act, and one charge of procuring a child under 16 to commit an indecent act, which was endorsed by the Crown.

Judge Far ruled an indecent act, by law, referred to an act involving bodies – not words.

After the charges were dropped, the jury heard closing arguments from the Crown and Mr Head’s legal team.

. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Mr Head’s barrister Ms Bernardin’s described the charges as “collusion, lies, and retribution”.

She said her client had no reason to lie, and was forthright with police from the beginning, freely admitting to massaging one of the boys, being at the parties, and inquiring about their penis sizes.

Ms Bernardin said there were inconsistencies in the witness’s evidence, questioned why one alleged victim did not come forward until recently, and why some of the victims were in contact with Mr Head after the alleged incidents occurred.

Ms Bernardin told the jury that two witnesses lied because the first time they were interviewed they did not mention later allegations, saying they had changed their stories.

In regards to the serious alleged non-consensual oral sex act, Ms Bernardin said it was factually impossible for Mr Head to get inside the boy’s swag to commit the act.

She also suggested to the jury that one victim had an axe to grind with Mr Head, and questioned why Mr Head would brazenly touch the boys while at parties in the vicinity of others.

During her close to the jury, Crown prosecutor Ms Coley said there were a number of similarities in regards to Mr Head’s alleged offending, which showed the alleged victims were not lying.

The similarities were the boy’s ages, the way he contacted them, asking each to send him photos of their penises, and the way in which he physically offended against them.

Ms Coley said told the jury if they believed the men were truthful and reliable witnesses, then they should find Mr Head guilty.

Ms Coley said humans were not computers, and it would be odd if there were no inconsistencies within the evidence.

She also noted when they boys were interviewed by police at first, their mothers were have been with them, so it’s understandable if they were not comfortable talking about all of the details at first.

The jury began their deliberations on Friday, May 5, about 2.45pm.