Rickie Eggleton: Central Coast teacher charged with child sexual abuse

A Central Coast primary school teacher charged with historic child abuse offences, including having sex with girl with a cognitive impairment, has appeared in court.

A primary school teacher will have to reside with his parents, report to police twice a week and not go near any children after being granted bail on Friday.

Rickie William Eggleton faced Gosford Local Court after being charged with having sexual intercourse with a child under 10 with a cognitive impairment and indecently assaulting a child under 16.

Police allege, in charge sheets tendered in court, the 42-year-old abused the one child, aged five or six, some time in 2010, at Jilliby.

Rickie Eggleton was charged with having sexual intercourse with a child with a cognitive impairment. Picture: Peter Clark

Eggleton’s solicitor told the court the Crown’s case “rises and falls on the evidence of the complainant” and there were “real issues” with her interview with police.

The court heard the victim’s cognitive impairment limited her ability to communicate, which made the alleged offending objectively “worse” if it were to be proven but also more difficult to establish given the “gaps in her reliability”.

Eggleton’s solicitor told the court her client had no prior criminal record, could comply with any bail conditions and needed to be at liberty to prepare his legal defence.

Mr Eggleton faced Gosford Local Court on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The Crown prosecutor however argued it was a strong case against Eggleton, the victim’s electronically recorded police interview had to be viewed “as a whole” and not just read as a transcript and, if convicted, he would be facing a lengthy custodial sentence which could make him more of a flight risk.

In the end Magistrate Jennifer Price said she was satisfied any potential risks could be mitigated by strict bail conditions, which included he reside with his parents at Tacoma, report to Wyong Police Station twice a week and not go near any children.

Mr Eggleton was adjourned to face court again on June 16.