Central Qld man bailed on child sex charges allegedly busted with meth

A Central Queensland man allegedly caught with a dangerous drug is alleged to have breached his bail condition by having contact with a victim child. Here’s what happened during his bid for freedom.

A Central Queensland man who was bailed on child sex charges has found himself back in custody after allegedly being caught with methamphetamines and having contact with an alleged victim.

The 24-year-old appeared in custody in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on March 8 where he applied for bail.

The man had previously been bailed on numerous charges including two counts of carnal knowledge of a child under 16, two counts of rape, choking and several charges relating to child exploitation material.

A condition on the man’s original bail was that he have no contact with the complainant.

However the man found himself back in custody after he was charged with two fresh charges of possessing methamphetamines and breaching a protection order - both alleged to have occurred on March 7.

During his latest bail application on March 8, solicitor Samantha Legrady indicated the two fresh charges would proceed as a plea of guilty.

“An application for aid was lodged by my office in relation to 34 charges that we are awaiting an outcome on,” Ms Legrady said.

“Certainly, Your Honour, it is accepted that he has breached his bail condition by having contact with the victim child in relation to this matter.”

Ms Legrady said if granted bail, the man proposed to live with his father.

Police objected to bail and prosecutor Courtney Brown said it was “highly disappointing” the defendant was back making contact with the child, who was 14 when the alleged offences started.

“All offences relate to the same victim child,” Ms Brown said.

“Your Honour, when he was first bailed he indicated to the court the relationship was over and that he wasn’t going to contact the child anymore.

“He indicated to the court that the child held some manipulation over this relationship.

“Your Honour, I submit to the court now, the defendant’s in a position where none of that is to be believed.”

Ms Brown said the man had shown that he would continue to breach his bail.

“He was given a chance on bail, he’s now failed with that - these are serious charges before the court.”

Ms Brown told Magistrate Cameron Press that there may be more charges laid in relation to a photograph found on the man’s phone.

Mr Press said the man had failed to show cause in the bail application.

“The onus is on him to establish that his continuing incarceration would be unjustified,” Mr Press said.

“I simply cannot find that it would be unjustified.

“He was given an opportunity here to comply with bail conditions and there is now strong evidence that he has failed to do so.”

Bail was refused and the man was remanded in custody.

His matters were adjourned to March 17.