Wiggle’s voice trainer arrested on historic child sex charges
The Sydney-based voice trainer of the current Red Wiggle has been arrested on historic sex charges allegedly committed in England more than 40 years ago.
NSW
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The Sydney-based voice trainer of the current Red Wiggle has been arrested on historic sex charges allegedly committed while working in England more than 40 years ago.
Robert Graham Bickerstaff was arrested by Federal Police at his north shore home on August 29 after British authorities contacted the Australian Attorney-General's office.
Bickerstaff, 87, has spent the past two weeks in custody and is due to appear in Central Local Court on Wednesday, where British authorities will begin the process of attempting to extradite him to England.
The charges he faces relate to alleged child offences more than 40 years ago.
Red Wiggle Simon Pryce has previously posted on social media that Bickerstaff was his voice trainer from when he was a young singer.
“Home to celebrate my singing teacher Robert Bickerstaff's 83rd B'day. He's been my singing teacher for 20 years!,” he posted on his Twitter account in 2017.
According to his social media profile, Bickerstaff has worked around the world at prestigious operas and music conservatoriums.
These have included the Royal Academy of Music, King’s College at Cambridge and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
According to Bickerstaff’s profile he worked in England around the time period he was alleged to have committed the offences.
His profile says he attended high school in the Sydney suburb of Drummoyne and taught at some of the city’s most elite music institutions.
“An individual was arrested in New South Wales on 29 August 2019 in response to an extradition request made by the United Kingdom,’’ a spokesman for the Attorney-General said yesterday.
“This person is wanted to face prosecution in the United Kingdom for historical child sex offences, he said.
“As the matter is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further.’’