Damien Wanstall: Kellyville High alleged groomer in bid to change bail
A deputy principal accused of online grooming and trying to pay a 14yo for sex has made a bid to change his stringent bail conditions in light of the Covid lockdown.
Hills Shire
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A deputy principal accused of online grooming and trying to pay a 14-year-old girl for sex has had his bail varied so he can go grocery shopping and exercise during lockdown.
Damien Wanstall, 47, the deputy principal at Kellyville High School was charged by child abuse detectives who allege he had sexual conversations with a person who he thought was a 14-year-old girl – but was actually undercover cops.
Police previously alleged in court that Mr Wanstall believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and allegedly had “sexually explicit conversations” about acts he wished to perform on the child before they arranged to meet in Westmead.
Mr Wanstall, of Rouse Hill, was arrested and charged with using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 for sex and using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material last December.
Mr Wanstall, who is on bail and living at his mother’s home in Faulconbridge, had his matter heard for a fresh bail variation at Parramatta Local Court on Friday.
His previous bail conditions stated he could not leave the home without his mother, and only then during the day time.
His lawyer Darren Emery asked for a change in Wanstall’s bail conditions so he can leave his home to “shop for essential items” and to “undertake exercise” on his own as long as he is within a “5km radius” of his residential address to keep with the current Covid restrictions.
While Mr Wanstall was previously not allowed to use a new internet, social media or apps unless for reasons including internet banking, health, government and legal services, it has now been extended to include ordering household groceries, home maintenance and nursery supplies.
His other bail conditions including daily police reporting, an evening curfew from 8pm-8am, and not going to any schools nor approaching anyone under the age of 18 remain.
His matter will return to court in October.
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