Rob Beveridge, Jaydon Beveridge, Illawarra Hawks: Son of NBL basketball coach charged over alleged child grooming
Coach Jaydon Beveridge - the son of former NBL coach Rob Beveridge - has been stood down from the Illawarra Basketball Association following allegations he asked teen girls for sexually explicit images and bought one underage girl alcohol.
Illawarra Star
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The Illawarra Basketball Association says it’s been left “shocked and disgusted” after the son of a former NBL coach was charged following an investigation into the alleged grooming of teenage girls.
Jaydon Beveridge, the son of former coach Illawarra Hawks coach Rob Beveridge was arrested on Thursday, following allegations he groomed teen girls on social media over three years between 2017 and this year.
Jaydon, a coach with the Illawarra Basketball Association (IBA) was immediately stood down in June, after detectives from Wollongong Police District commenced an investigation following reports several girls - aged between 14 and 16 - had been groomed by a man known to them.
As part of their inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Wollongong on Tuesday, June 16.
A number of electronic items were seized for forensic examination.
Following further inquiries, Jaydon, 21, was arrested at Wollongong Police Station about 3pm on Thursday.
He was charged with groom child for unlawful sexual activity over 14 years and under 16 years old and incite aggravated indecency – victim under 16 and under authority of offender.
Police will allege in court that Jaydon groomed a number of girls via social media apps and requested explicit photographs of the girls between April 2017 and January 2020.
It’s further alleged Jaydon supplied alcohol to a 15-year-old girl in January 2020.
He was granted conditional bail and is due to face Wollongong Local Court on August 11.
In speaking to the Illawarra Star, an IBA spokesperson said the association was “shocked and disgusted by the alleged behaviour, and didn’t have any knowledge of the allegations during his time as a coach with us.”
“IBA takes the safety and care of its members extremely seriously, and we are devastated by the impact this is having on members of the Association. IBA has zero tolerance for putting members safety at risk,” the spokesperson said.
“Our priority is supporting the alleged victims and their families. Basketball NSW has provided on-going support to the families through professional counselling services, and we are providing support to staff through the Employee Assistance Program.”
The spokesperson also confirmed Basketball NSW is conducting an internal investigation, in addition to assisting police with their investigation.