Alleged rapist granted bail in Ipswich Magistrates Court
After one year in custody, a man charged with indecent treatment of a child and rape has been granted bail on the condition that he must not contact or communicate with any child under 16 years old.
Ipswich
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After one year in custody, a man charged with indecent treatment of a child and rape has been granted bail on the condition that he must not contact or communicate with any child under 16 years old.
The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared in the Ipswich Magistrates Court via video on Thursday.
The court heard the man was charged with four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, on dates unknown between November 2020 and January 2021 and one count of rape on January 25, 2021.
He was also charged with making child exploitation material on a date unknown between November 20, 2020 and January 27, 2021 and one charge of obstruct police on January 27, 2021.
The man has been on remand for 351 days since his arrest and applied for bail on Thursday.
Defence lawyer Alan Phillips said his client’s former employers were willing to let the man reside with them and could offer him work upon his release on bail.
Police confirmed the bail address in Glenore Grove, near Gatton, was suitable.
Crown prosecutor Ashleigh Wakefield, appearing for the indecent treatment, rape and child exploitation material charges, said it would be suitable to prohibit the man from contacting children under 16 if he was to be released on bail.
The man was granted bail on several conditions, including that he must not contact or communicate, or attempt to contact or communicate either directly or indirectly with Crown witnesses or any children under 16.
He was ordered to subject to drug testing when required and to report to Gatton police.
He also must not possess weapons or drugs, and cannot go within 500m of the residence or place of work of the alleged victim.
The man will appear in the Ipswich District Court on February 1 and the magistrates court on March 2.
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