Darren Vuolanne: Ex truckie to stand trial over Illawarra child sex charges

A former Scout associate and NT truck driver will face a trial after pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting four children in the Illawarra. Read what happened in court.

A former truckie charged with sexually assaulting four minors in the Illawarra around the turn of the century is set to stand trial.

Darren Vuolanne, 51, appeared in court via video link on Wednesday where he entered a plea of not guilty to four counts of sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of 10 and 16, three counts of aggravated indecent assault of a victim under the age of 16, sexual intercourse with a person between the ages of 10 and 16, indecent assault of a victim under the age of 10 and aggravated indecent assault of a victim under the age of 16.

The court had previously heard graphic allegations stemming back to a five-year period between 1996 to 2001 including touching the genitalia of an eight-year-old child and raping another alleged victim between 15 and 20 times.

Vuolanne had been associated with Scout troops before becoming a truck driver, a career which saw him based in Alice Springs in 2019.

Darren Vuolanne will stand trial in Wollongong District Court.

Vuolanne allegedly coerced his victims into performing sexual acts, which began by insisting they sit on his lap before he pulled them tight and placed his hands on their thighs, the court heard.

The court also heard despite the complainants being uncomfortable, he would allegedly tell them to kiss him to be allowed to do things and if they refused, he would belittle them until they obliged.

In Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, Vuolanne said “That’s correct, not guilty” when Magistrate Chris McRobert asked if he was entering a not guilty plea.

A date for the trial will be determined when Vuolanne fronts Wollongong District Court in November.