Charleville State High ex-principal slams NSW court after paedophile bailed before sentencing

A former principal of a Queensland high school has slammed a NSW court for allowing a former Charleville businessman to remain on bail while awaiting sentencing after being convicted of paedophilia this month.

A former principal of a Queensland high school has slammed a NSW court for allowing a former Charleville businessman to be released on bail while awaiting sentencing after being convicted of paedophilia this month.

A jury found Neil Duncan, 67, guilty of eight counts of sexually touching girls between the ages of 10 and 16 in 2018 to 2020 while he was president of the Cobargo Pony Club on the south coast of NSW.

Police prosecutors and outraged parents in NSW were hopeful he would be sent straight to prison but Queanbeyan District Court judge Robyn Tupman allowed him to remain on bail under strict bail conditions until his sentencing in August.

The conditions included being confined to his family stud farm in Timbumburi on the outskirts of Tamworth unless accompanied by a relative, and he was barred from all pony club events in NSW.

Over the weekend, he attended the Narrabri Showgrounds, 200km from his home, watching a two-day children’s sporting event Gymkhana hosted by the local pony club.

He was charged with violating the terms of his bail and appeared in Tamworth court on Monday, when he was again granted bail.

Teachers’ Professional Association of Queensland secretary and former Charleville High School principal Tracy Tully said she first reported Mr Duncan 15 years ago.

A former principal of Charleville State High School has slammed a NSW court for allowing a former Charleville businessman out on bail while awaiting sentencing after being convicted of paedophilia this month.

She said she reported Duncan for sexual activity with a student while she was principal at Charleville State High School in 2007.

“It was one of the most difficult roles in my position as a principal,” Ms Tully said.

“Students shared with me detailed events of the horrendous actions and behaviours they were subjected to in their local community, by people they knew and online.

“More than 15 years later, these children have grown up and I hope they will be brave enough to come forward to the police to tell their stories.”

Ms Tully said parents struggled to come to terms with the devastating effects on their children’s lives, and did not know who to turn to for help, especially in rural areas, where news spread quickly.

“Children subjected to these horrifying events must continue to live in their communities and are subjected to unnecessary fear and anxiety when they see paedophiles roaming free around their community,” she said.

“This is exacerbated when courts do not make the hard calls for bail conditions, granting freedom to those awaiting sentencing.

“Our judicial system is failing our youth and their parents,” Ms Tully said.

“What concerned me most, was some parents’ reluctance to report matters to the police for fear of reprisal by perpetrators.”

She advised parents and teachers to be on the lookout for telltale signs of possible harm to their children including the child becoming quieter, withdrawn from their friends, wetting their beds, becoming aggressive or angry for no reason, or becoming clingy.

She said other signs could include the child saying their head or tummy hurt, they were having nightmares or started struggling at school.

Signs for teenagers include, excessive time online, being secretive about online conversations, changes to eating habits, dressing differently and self-harm.

■ If you or someone you know has been a victim of harm or sexual abuse, call 000 immediately and report the circumstances to the Police and Ambulance.