Illawarra school principal released on bail after alleged sexual assault of young girl
A school principal has been released on bail after he was charged over allegations he sexually abused a young girl.
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An Illawarra school principal has been released on bail two days after he was charged over allegations he sexually abused a nine-year-old girl he is related to.
The man, who cannot be named in order to protect the girl, faced Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, where Magistrate Roger Clisdell granted his application for release.
According to court documents, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad started an investigation at the weekend, following reports a nine-year-old girl was sexually assaulted by a man who was known to her.
Following extensive investigations, detectives arrested the man at a home in Wollongong about 4.45pm on Sunday.
He was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 and intentionally sexually touch a child under 10 years.
Police will allege in court that the man sexually assaulted the girl on two occasions at homes in Wollongong and Camden between May and November 2 of this year.
While the school the man works at refused to comment on the status of his employment, his lawyer Madeline Hughes told the court the allegations would “see the end of his career”.
In arguing for her client’s release, Ms Hughes said he had no prior criminal history and that his “prior good character should not be overlooked”.
She also noted the man’s family were in court to support him on Tuesday, offering a $40,000 bail surety.
Despite the prosecution arguing the charges were “extremely serious” and that they had strong evidence against the man, including a letter written by the girl about the alleged abuse, Magistrate Clisdell granted the man’s application for bail, imposing a series of strict bail conditions.
While on bail, the man has been prohibited from contacting any of the witnesses.
The man was also forced to surrender his passport, must abstain from drugs and alcohol and report to Wollongong Police Station daily.
The man, who was flanked by his family as he left the court, did not indicate how he would plead to the charges.
The matter will return to court in January.