Alleged Moreton Bay rapist seeks to alter bail conditions

A Moreton Bay truck driver, charged with rape and indecent treatment of a child, has applied to vary his bail so he can spend supervised time with children in his family.

An accused 51-year-old rapist from Narangba seeked to alter his bail in the Caboolture Magistrates Court. Picture: File

A court north of Brisbane has heard a Narangba truck driver charged with rape wished to alter his bail conditions so he could spend time with children and continue working.

A 51-year-old Narangba man faced Caboolture Magistrates Court on May 16, seeking to alter his bail conditions, after being charged with rape and indecent treatment of a child under 16 child under 12 years.

Court documents reveal that on April 1, 2023 at Narangba, the man is alleged to have indecently dealt with a child under 12 years old and at the same date and place, is alleged to have raped an unnamed person.

The court heard the the 51-year-old wished to reduce his check-in to police requirement from twice to once weekly and be granted permission to spend time with children, under the supervision of another adult.

The defendant’s lawyer Isabelle Rubendra said reporting to police twice a week on a Monday and Friday had impeded his ability to work as an interstate truck driver.

Ms Rubendra told the court the Narangba man wished to vary his bail so that he could attend family events with younger members of his family.

An accused 51-year-old rapist from Narangba seeked to alter his bail in the Caboolture Magistrates Court. Picture: File

“He’s unable to be on call and take shifts for these days, which has an impact on his work, as his standard roster involves work over the weekend and he may be required to drive to places like Adelaide and Melbourne for example, which leaves him unable to check in on a Monday,” Ms Rubendra said.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Tara Miles told the court that variations to the bail conditions were opposed, due to the seriousness of the charges.

The court heard the 51 year-old entered into bail for these offences on April 2, 2023.

Magistrate Peter Hasted granted the variation for the Narangba man to only have to report once a week to police but denied the variation to grant him permission to spend time with children, under the supervision of another adult.

“Having regard to the nature of the charges (the defendant) faces today and the submissions of the parties, I am not prepared to vary that condition today.”

With regard to the number of weekly reportings, Mr Hasted said: “I note the letter under the hand of the general manager of the employer of the defendant, which says, ‘part of (the man’s) conditions of employment is that he is to be available seven days a week and is required to work a set listed of days a week on rotating roster’.

“It goes on to speak of the work that he does and the fact he is a crucial member of the workforce.”