Dion Adam Lingard in court for alleged child rape, making child exploitation material
A Sunshine Coast man accused of seeking out children online allegedly drove to Bundaberg to take a child and rape her. Here’s the latest in his case.
Sunshine Coast
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A Sunshine Coast man who allegedly sought out young children online since August last year will wait behind bars until his next court appearance.
Kulangoor man Dion Adam Lingard, 31, was arrested after police executed a search warrant at a Sunshine Coast property in February.
He has been charged with 116 offences and had 101 of his charges mentioned in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on March 18.
His charges include six count of rape, 28 of involving a child in making child exploitation material, 44 of making child exploitation material, two of taking a child for immoral purposes and four of indecent treatment
Defence lawyer Michael Robinson appeared on Mr Lingard’s behalf - who was not present in court - and asked for the matter to be adjourned.
Magistrate Rod Madsen adjourned the matter to April 19 for mention.
Police alleged last Wednesday the man targeted youths online since August, 2023 and had groomed a relationship with two girls from the north coast region online before he arranged to meet them.
Detectives were still sorting through “disturbing” material seized during the raid, police told the media last Wednesday.
Court documents show some of the charges occured at Innes Park in Bundaberg on January 14, 2024.
Mr Lingard has been charged with taking a girl under 16 on that date for the purpose of having carnal knowledge, raping the girl twice and procuring her to commit an indecent act.
It is alleged he used his phone and social media between January 2 and January 14 to procure and meet with a child under 16.
Documents also stated it is alleged he took a child for the immoral purpose of indecent treatment between December 29 and January 2, 2024 in Kulangoor and he allegedly supplied drugs to a minor between December 30, 2023 and January 1, 2024.
It is also alleged he used his phone and social media to procure and meet a girl under 16 in order to “send nudes and fix their relationship” between December 20 and December 31, 2023 documents showed.
It is alleged 41 of the 44 charges of making child abuse material all occurred between July 1, 2023 and February 9, 2024 and the remainder occurred November 28 and December 9, 2022.
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