New charges laid against Camden dance teacher Benjamin Jay Stokes

A Camden dance teacher accused of assaulting four students has been hit with six fresh charges, with prosecutors alleging he met a child groomed for sexual activity.

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

A southwest Sydney dance teacher facing a string of child sex charges has been slapped with new charges over allegations he met with a child for unlawful sexual activity.

Benjamin Jay Stokes, 36, is facing six new charges, including four counts of grooming a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity and meeting a child under 14 years groomed for sexual activity.

All the charges, including an offence of indecently assaulting a person under 16, which had already been laid, relate to a fourth alleged victim.

Court documents state the alleged offences happened between May and December 2013, when the victim was 12.

Prosecutors claim Mr Stokes stroked the same student’s thigh while calling him “cute and handsome”, and sent him indecent material to groom him.

Benjamin Jay Stokes. Picture: Annie Lewis

Court documents state that police have witness statements and some electronic evidence to substantiate their allegations.

“The accused, in a position of authority, took sexual advantage of children who saw him as an authority figure,” court documents from prosecutors said.

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

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

These matters are currently before Campbelltown District Court and will next be mentioned in 2023.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.