Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands charged with indecent dealings with a child
RUGBY league Immortal Graeme Langlands is facing six charges of indecent treatment of a child under 16. It is alleged the offences occurred on the Gold Coast in the 1980s.
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RUGBY league Immortal Graeme Langlands has been charged with child sex offences.
A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said a 76-year-old man was arrested in Sutherland Shire last month by NSW police on behalf of the Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Group.
He is facing six charges of indecent treatment of a child under 16. The charges were described as historical.
It is alleged the offences occurred on the Gold Coast in the 1980s.
Langland’s matter was heard in the Brisbane Arrest Court this morning.
The court heard Langlands has dementia and now lives in a retirement home in Sydney.
The court also heard Langlands may undergo a mental health assessment to determine if he is fit to answer the charges, given he suffers from dementia.
His town agent Colin Townes said he intended to make an application for a suppression order at a later date.
Mr Townes told the court Langlands was “the subject of a complaint”.
“He suffers from quite severe dementia and is unable to travel,” he said.
The matter was supposed to be heard on December 6, but was brought forward at the eleventh hour.
The matter was adjourned for Monday, when Langlands’ lawyers are expected to make a bid for details of the case to be suppressed.
Langlands’ daughter Monique was made aware of the likelihood of charges three weeks ago.
She immediately hired a lawyer.
“My brother Graeme has always been, and is, a good man. I am shocked at this allegation, he is just not that type,” Langlands’ sister, Paula, said in a statement made to Channel 7 today.
“Graeme’s only fault is that he trusts too much and thinks that everyone else does the same. He is honest and doesn’t understand when people take advantage of him.
“His colleagues have always admired Graeme and looked up to him, supported him on the field and off and would readily agree that Graeme is basically a gentleman and would deny this allegation if his current mental and physical health allowed.”
The former Australian captain played 45 tests for the Kangaroos between 1963 and 1975.
Born in Wollongong, “Changa” moved to Sydney to play at fullback for a dominant St George side in 1963. He won four grand finals for the Dragons.
Many fans remember Langlands for wearing white boots in the 1975 grand final, in what was his final full season.
Langlands was named the fifth rugby league “Immortal” in 1999.
He suffered serious injuries and was knocked unconscious at Suncorp Stadium in 2008 during the World Cup, after falling from an open-topped car being driven around the ground.
Former TV commentator Barry Ross is a long-time friend who visits Langlands weekly.
“He’s asleep a lot of the time when we visit,” Ross said
“He’s on a lot of drugs and he’s getting worse.”
- additional reporting by Phil Rothfield (The Daily Telegraph)
Originally published as Graeme ‘Changa’ Langlands charged with indecent dealings with a child