Rosemount man arrested on historic child sex offences to fight charges

A Sunshine Coast man has said he will fight the historical child sex charges brought against him after police allege he abused a child known to him through a sports club.

A man has been arrested over alleged historic child sex offences. Photos: generic

A Sunshine Coast man has said he will fight historic child sex charges brought against him following allegations he abused a child known to him through a local sports club.

Police revealed in a statement the 80-year-old Rosemount man was arrested on November 15 after he allegedly offended against a child in the 1990s.

Detectives allege the man was repeatedly offending against a child known to him through his involvement in a sport club.

He was charged with 12 counts of indecent treatment of children under 12 and under 16 as well as five unlawful intercourse offences.

The man faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Thursday where duty lawyer Bree-Anna Bowtell asked for an adjournment to allow for a brief of evidence to be delivered.

Ms Bowtell said the man would make a Legal Aid application, with magistrate Chris Callaghan adjourning the matter until next year.

When approached by media outside court, the man said he intended to plead not guilty “because it didn’t happen”, and declined to comment further.

The man leaving court on Thursday after his brief mention. Picture: Sam Turner

The charges came following a joint investigation between the Caboolture and Sunshine Coast Child Protection Investigation units that led to a search of the man’s home on November 15.

Detectives are appealing for further information as police believe there may have been more alleged victims which are yet to come forward.

Sunshine Coast CPIU Detective Senior Sergeant Kerri Della-Vedova said she was grateful the alleged victim came forward to report the alleged abuse.

“However, if anyone else relates to this offending or has more information, I encourage you speak to police,” she said.

“I’d like to reinforce to anyone who has experienced sexual violence or abuse, even decades ago, that police will listen, we will investigate, while respecting your wishes, privacy, health and safety needs.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Della-Vedova noted offences against children were her team’s priority and any information reported to police could assist investigations.

“I also reach out to those who may have not experienced sexual abuse personally, but know about offending against a child that has not yet been reported to police,” she said.

She reminded not reporting sexual offences against children was a criminal offence and there were multiple ways to report available, depending on one’s situation.