Blue Mountains circus school trainers charged with ‘sadistic sex abuse’ of three boys under eight
COURT documents obtained by The Daily Telegraph reveal the depraved abuse police say an alleged child sex ring involved in a Blue Mountains circus training school perpetrated.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FOUR members of an alleged ring involved in a Blue Mountains circus training school charged with the systematic and sadistic sexual abuse of three young boys under the age of eight have pleaded not guilty in court.
The pleas follow revelations police had questioned them over the allegations in September last year.
Court documents, obtained by The Daily Telegraph, filed in the Penrith Local Court reveal the depraved abuse police allege they perpetrated.
Two of the accused allegedly had sexual intercourse with two underage boys.
One of the accused allegedly incited the two boys to have sex with each other.
Police also allege the boys were deprived of their liberty before the alleged sexual offences.
Police will allege the abuse occurred between 2014 and 2016.
Three woman, aged 58, 29 and 26 and a 52-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, chose not to face the court today instead leaving it up to their lawyer Bryan Wrench to enter not guilty pleas to all 69 charges of child sexual abuse laid against them.
“My first application today is that I would like it specifically noted that we are entering pleas of not guilty for all sequences, in all matters,” Mr Wrench told the court.
“They (the accused) simply say we didn’t do this and there is another side to this story than is being portrayed by the police and in the media.”
All of the people charged have connections to the circus training school.
The circus training school offers all ages classes in juggling, aerial and unicycles and describes itself on its website as “a family friendly environment”.
Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Baillieu in July 2017 to investigate reports of sexual and physical abuse of three boys.
After an extensive investigation detectives arrested the four defendants who appeared in court today at homes at Katoomba, Canterbury, and Wentworthville.
Three of the accused hail from Katoomba and include a 58-year-old woman who is facing 43 charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10, sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and aggravated kidnapping. Police charged the 52-year-old man, who is believed to be related to her, with three counts of aggravated sexual assault in company (child under 10), male child abuse material, and use child under 14 to make child abuse material.
While the 26-year-old woman has been charged with 13 offences, including aggravated sex assault in company, and detain for advantage.
IN OTHER NEWS: ‘DRUNK DRIVER’ CRASHES INTO CEMETERY
The fourth accused a 29-year-old Canterbury woman has been charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault in company deprive liberty and three charges of common assault.
All four did not apply for bail and it was formerly refused by Magistrate Stephen Corry at Penrith Local Court with Mr Wrench indicating he will make an application on his defendants behalf later this month.
“We are seeking that based on those pleas and based on that they were aware of allegations in September last year while at liberty, we are seeking the matter be put over for a release application on 16 February,” Mr Wrench said in court.
The matter will return to Penrith Local Court tomorrow for a hearing on whether a permanent non-publication order will be made preventing the publication of the names of the four co-accused.
INSIDE THE CIRCUS AT THE CENTRE OF THE CLAIMS
NESTLED among a canopy of trees in the Blue Mountains, the corrugated-roofed warehouse lays deserted and weather-beaten.
But behinds its walls, police allege three young boys were subjected to two years of sadistic sexual abuse by a circus ring.
The corrugated roof of the dilapidated brick warehouse pokes out among the trees in the Blue Mountains.
Accessed down a steep concrete drive, the building lays eerily silent. For a circus school, it is decidedly low-key.
Neighbours there said the business held classes for disabled children, many with Down syndrome.
A meshed security door has been prised open, behind it a green side door, its paint flaking off.
Inside a screened window, various items which appear to be arts and craft objects, lay scattered on a work bench.
There are play areas for children and handmade clay pots and materials for arts and craft.
At the back of the property is a corrugated shed, under which several bicycles are parked. Another rusted child’s cycle stands upright next to a tree.
Neighbours told of seeing children come and go, of hearing them playing day and night at the building, but until today had no idea of what was allegedly going on behind its doors.
Police will allege that for two years inside its walls, members of an alleged ring circus training school engaged in the systematic and sadistic sexual abuse of three young boys under the age of eight.
Yesterday four people were arrested and charged with dozens of offences relating to the alleged child sexual and physical abuse.
It is alleged the victims were three young boys under the age of eight and that the abuse took place between 2014 and 2016.
