Mat Mladin: Motorsport and superbike legend accused of child sex offences
An Australian motorsport hall of famer and one of the most decorated superbike racers in living memory is accused of a string of child sex offences.
Macarthur
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An Australian motorsport hall of famer and one of the most decorated superbike racers in living memory has fronted court accused of a string of child sex offences.
Mat Mladin, who won an unmatched seven American Superbike Championships during the peak of his career, appeared by videolink before Magistrate Ian Guy on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old team owner of Australian Supersport Championship team Mladin Racing, stands accused of four sex offences, including sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10.
The Kirkham man has also been charged with two counts of intentionally carry out a sex act on a child under 10, and one count of intentionally incite a child to do a sexual act on him.
The former superbike racer was named one of the top 100 influential people in the Macarthur region in 2018.
His lawyer, in making an application for Mladin’s release from custody, told the court his client planned to fight the allegations made against him.
“This is a matter which is obviously going to go to trial,” he said. “There won’t be a plea of guilty.”
The lawyer also questioned the strength of the police case, highlighting the accusations weren’t brought to the attention of authorities until at least six months after the alleged incident.
“The complaint has actually provided, after 185 questions, effectively a denial of any wrongdoing by the applicant,” he said, referring to the original police interview earlier this year.
New evidence ultimately led to Mladin’s arrest by the Child Abuse Squad on March 13, court documents state.
Mladin’s “significant medical issues” and the impending court delays triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic were also raised during the application for bail.
After close to a fortnight behind bars, the Kirkham man was granted strict conditional bail in Campbelltown Local Court on the condition of his mum posting a bail surety of $50,000.
The 48-year-old has to be chaperoned by an adult when in the company of a child under the age of 16. He has also surrendered his passport.
The matter will return to Campbelltown Local Court in coming months.