Camden dance teacher Benjamin Jay Stokes to fight charges at trial

A former Camden dance teacher who faces seven charges including grooming a 13-year-old child has fronted court. Read what happened.

A Camden dance teacher who allegedly sexually touched a student and sent a video of himself masturbating to another one will fight the charges at a trial.

Benjamin Jay Stokes, 36, fronted Picton Local Court on Friday charged with 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 Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said all charges, in two separate matters, would go to trial at Campbelltown District Court.

Prosecutors charged him earlier this year with the seven new 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.

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

The four original charges laid against him were withdrawn.

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

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

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

According to court documents it will also be alleged that in 2014, Mr 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 that prosecutors will allege that in 2014, Mr Stokes rubbed one of his hands on the 13-year-old student’s genitalia at Smeaton Grange.

Benjamin Jay Stokes is a former dance teacher and owner of Commotion School of Performing Arts in Smeaton Grange. Â He will go to trial over allegations that he groomed and indecently assaulted students. Picture: Annie Lewis

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

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

The documents show the former dance teacher was forced to close Commotion Performing Arts in Smeaton Grange, the dance school he founded, after the allegations came to light.

Mr Stokes will face Campbelltown District Court for arraignment on August 28. Under his current bail conditions, Mr Stokes is prohibited from having any contact with children or spending time in a house where a child would be present.