Blue Mountains child sex ring circus: Prosecution to wade through ‘29 hours of video evidence’

The case involving a group at the centre of shocking child sex ring allegations at a Blue Mountains circus school has been held over to September.

Katoomba circus child sex ring accused Therese Cook, Yyani Cook-Williams, Clarissa Meredith & Paul Cook leaving Penrith Local Court last year with barrister Bryan Wrench.

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A group accused of being involved in a child sex ring through a Katoomba circus school which allegedly carried out blood rituals could face a lengthy hearing to see if they will be committed to stand trial.

At a brief mention in Penrith Local Court on Friday, a representative from the Director of Public Prosecutions said up to 30 hours of interviews with two of the alleged child victims had been obtained.

The court heard a committal hearing would likely take up to two weeks in order for all interview evidence to be heard before the matter could proceed to trial.

Therese Ann Cook, 58, Paul Cook, 52, Yyani Cook-Williams, 30, and Clarissa Meredith, 23, and three juveniles have pleaded not guilty to more than 120 charges combined.

Therese Cook was well-established in the Blue Mountains performing arts community. She is accused of being the ringleader of the alleged child abuse ring. Picture: Matthew Sullivan

It has been alleged Therese Cook, who is facing 43 charges of child rape and kidnapping, was the ringleader and incited her daughters Cook-Williams, a part-time burlesque performer, and Meredith to have sex with the youngsters while her younger brother Paul Cook filmed it.

Blood rituals, sticking a needle in an eye and tongue biting are among the shocking allegations in the case.

Yyani Cook-Williams has been charged with eight offences relating to the alleged circus child sex ring.

Therese Cook faces 43 charges, including several counts of aggravated sexual assault, indecent assault and detaining a person with intent to intimidate.

Paul Cook faces four charges, including aggravated sexual assault and producing child abuse material.

Cook-Williams is charged with eight offences, including aggravated sexual assault and common assault.

Meredith is charged with 13 offences, which include detaining a person for gratification, intimidation, aggravated sexual assault and producing child abuse material.

Clarissa Meredith is accused of being involved in a child abuse ring operating in the Blue Mountains. Source: Facebook

The alleged abuse is believed to have taken place at several locations in Parramatta, Leura, Lawson, Mount Victoria and Katoomba, where the circus school was based and where Therese Cook, Paul Cook and Meredith lived. The boys were not students at the school.

Defence barrister Bryan Wrench sought for the juvenile matters to be heard at the same committal hearing as their adult co-accuseds.

Magistrate Geoffrey Hiatt said the matter was “complex”, with a committal hearing requiring a special sitting in the court calendar.

The matter will return to court on September 6.