New charges laid against Camden dance teacher Benjamin Jay Stokes

New details of the prosecution’s case against a former Camden dance teacher have emerged as he has been charged with seven more offences including grooming a minor.

New details of the allegations in the case of a Camden dance teacher has emerged as it is revealed he faces seven new charges including grooming.

Benjamin Jay Stokes, 36, was represented in Picton Local Court on Friday by his lawyer where it was revealed prosecutors had charged him with 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.

The Director of Public Prosecutions will allege that between February 2012 and September 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.

According to court documents it will also be alleged that in July 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.

Benjamin Jay Stokes.

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

Court documents show that prosecutors will allege that between June 2014 and November 2014 Mr Stokes rubbed one of his hands on the 13-year-old student’s genitals at Smeaton Grange.

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The four original charges of four counts of aggravated indecent assault that Mr Stokes faced have been withdrawn. Mr Stokes had pleaded not guilty to two of these charges. No pleas have been entered in relation to the new charges.

Benjamin Jay Stokes.

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.

The matter will return to Picton Local Court on July 22. In the meantime, the defence and prosecution will have a case conference to discuss the matter where offers might be made.

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.