Ben Shields: Trial date set for former Dubbo mayor for alleged historic sex offences

A trial date has been set for the former Dubbo mayor over allegations of historic sex offences.

Former Dubbo mayor Ben Shields (right) pictured earlier this year outside court. Picture: Jake McCallum

A trial date has been set for a former Dubbo mayor accused of historic sex offences dating back more than two decades.

Benjamine William Shields, 42, appeared before Paramatta District Court on Friday via an audiovisual link where a trial date was set for April 8, 2024.

The trial is estimated to run for three weeks.

The former mayor who served on the Dubbo Regional Council for 20 years was charged with sexual intercourse without consent on June 28, 2022.

He had been charged with possessing a private conversation obtained by a surveillance device, which has since been withdrawn.

Former Dubbo mayor Ben Shields is set for trial on April 8. Picture: Ryan Young

Police will allege Shields sexually assaulted an 18-year-old in January 2023, which occurred when he was 22 and a Dubbo councillor.

He was arrested in June last year and had entered a plea of not guilty before Magistrate Fiona Toose in the Penrith Local Court.

According to documents tendered to the court, the alleged victim was invited to Dubbo by a friend of Shields.

The friend introduced the alleged victim to Shields when he arrived, and the trio attended a barbecue together that evening.

They continued on to the Dubbo RSL and then the Amaroo Hotel, returning to Shield’s home after midnight.

On arrival, the alleged victim went to the room he was sleeping in, with police alleging the other friend, who is referred to as a witness in court, told him to “come to our room and hang out” to which he accepted.

“Upon the victim getting to the bedroom, (Shields) was in a state of undress before (he) told the witness and the victim to get undressed to which they all did willingly,” documents tendered to the court said.

According to the police documents, the alleged victim withdrew his consent and allegedly told Shields to stop due to pain. Shields remains on bail.