Mackay region man, 27, refused bail, faces charges of indecent treatment, grooming, rape

A convicted Qld rapist faces fresh rape and child grooming charges after recent alleged chats online which police say escalated to physical abuse.

A Mackay region man was denied bail after being charged with rape, grooming and indecent treatment of a child.

A Mackay region man has been charged with rape, grooming and indecent treatment of a child – almost a decade after he was convicted on five counts of rape.

The 27-year-old man appeared by videolink in the Mackay Magistrates Court on July 24, 2025 and applied for bail.

He was supported by several family members and his partner.

He’s facing charges of grooming a child under the age of 16, indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16, indecent treatment of a child under the age of 12 and rape.

The grooming charge relates to alleged communication over Snapchat and the alleged rape occurred in 2024.

Magistrate Lewis Shillito said “he threatened to hurt himself … if the alleged victim did not allegedly send naked pictures of herself to him”.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Linden Pollard said the evidence was strong for the crown case.

“He has no fail to appear history, but a breach of bail from 2017,” Sergeant Pollard said.

“He does obviously have substantive offending, it is dated from 2015 but you will note it’s of similar nature.”

Magistrate Lewis Shillito said the man was previously convicted in the Children's Court in 2015 for five charges of rape committed 2012 and 2014.

“He received a 3.5 year sentence of detention and had served 480 days presentence custody,” Mr Shillito said.

Mr Shillito said he breached court orders 14 times between 2016 and 2020 and received another 12 months' imprisonment for supplying drugs to a minor in October 2016.

Defence solicitor Rosie Varley said the 27-year-old had interviews lined up to get a job.

The court heard he shared a property with his partner and Ms Varley suggested he report to police twice weekly if granted bail.

“He is wanting to move forward with his life in terms of getting that stable employment,” Ms Varley said.

Mr Shillito said he had concerns about the man regarding his mental health.

“I retain a reservation about the risk he places to his own welfare,” Mr Shillito said.

“I note that the suggestions in the material of him indicating an intention to self-harm.”

Mr Shillito refused the application for bail.

The man asked if he could speak, but then said he forgot what he wanted to say.

The matter was adjourned until September for a committal-mention.

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