Benjamin Jay Stokes: Camden dance teacher case delay after fourth alleged victim comes forward

Prosecutors allege a Camden dance teacher sent a 12-year-old student videos of himself masturbating to make it easier to procure the young boy for unlawful sexual activity.

The court case of a Camden teacher accused of grooming has again been delayed after a fourth alleged victim came forward leading to new charges.

Benjamin Jay Stokes, 36, was charged this month with grooming a child under 14 years for unlawful sexual activity, inciting aggravated indecency and indecently assaulting a person under 16 years.

According to court documents, the new charges relate to a fourth alleged victim who was also a student of the dance teacher.

Prosecutors allege in 2013, Stokes sent a 12-year-old student videos of himself naked and masturbating to make it easier to procure the young boy for unlawful sexual activity.

They further allege he asked the young boy to send him pictures of his penis and masturbation videos. Prosecutors also claim Stokes stroked the same student’s thigh while calling him “cute and handsome”.

Benjamin Jay Stokes is a former dance teacher and owner of Commotion School of Performing Arts in Smeaton Grange.

According to court documents, police have witness statements and some electronic evidence to substantiate their allegations.

“The offences are of a very serious nature involving the sexual exploitation of children,” the documents said.

At Campbelltown District Court on Thursday, a representative for the Director of Public Prosecutions said they were requesting an adjournment in the wake of the new development.

“A new complainment has come forward and we are waiting for those charges to join up,” she said.

Prosecutors charged Stokes earlier this year with the seven offences including four counts of indecent assault of person under 16 years, two counts of grooming a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity and one count of incite aggravated indecency of victim under 16.

The DPP will allege in 2012, Stokes committed an act of indecency against a 10-year-old student by kissing him and putting his tongue inside.

Benjamin Jay Stokes. Picture: Annie Lewis

They will further allege in that same year, he touched the 10-year-old on his penis while the child was seated in his lap.

According to court documents it will also be alleged in 2014, Stokes rubbed his hand on the inner thigh of a second dance student while the 14-year-old was seated on his lap.

Four of the charges relate to a third alleged victim who was also a student of Mr Stokes at the dance school.

Court documents show prosecutors will allege in 2014, Stokes rubbed one of his hands on the 13-year-old student’s genitalia at Smeaton Grange.

They will further allege that Stokes groomed the child for unlawful sexual activity by sending him a picture of a penis and of himself masturbating.

The documents state it is also alleged Stokes asked the child to send him a picture of the child’s penis.

Under his current bail conditions, Stokes is prohibited from having any contact with children or spending time in a house where a child would be present. The matter returns to court on October 27.