Charlie McInnes: Personal trainer learns fate after paying girls hundreds of dollars to perform sex acts over Snapchat

An eastern suburbs personal trainer who paid underage girls hundreds of dollars to undress and perform sexual acts was subjected to a “violent assault” by a group of men in custody. He learnt his fate in court this week.

Charlie McInnes used two separate snapchat accounts during his offending. (Photo by JUSTIN SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

A judge who sentenced a personal trainer to four years jail for paying underage girls hundreds of dollars to undress and perform sexual acts has told a court the victims may not comprehend the effects until for many years to come.

When Charlie McInnes’ disgusting acts were finally uncovered by police and he was arrested, Judge Penelope Hock told NSW District Court he started to “shake and cry” and said he didn’t wish to justify his actions.

The 36-year-old previously pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to plan or procure for sex a person under 16 years, and using a carriage service to procure an under 16-year-old for sexual activity.

One count of using a carriage service to engage in sexual activity with a child was taken into account during sentencing.

In reading out the agreed facts, Judge Hock told the court on Tuesday that during McInnes’ offending, he used two separate snapchat accounts both victims were 12.

In April 2022, McInnes spoke with one of the victims and she told him she was 12.

During a video call, Judge Hock said he insisted on only communicating via messenger and his camera was pointed towards the ceiling – a common theme throughout his offending.

McInness requested she change into another outfit in exchange for $100 and the following day she received a cash code and withdrew the money from an ATM at Bondi Junction Westfield.

Charlie McInnes was sentenced at the NSW District Court on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The pair had another call, this time McInnes offered $40 to her and $20 to her friend. She agreed to change into a bikini.

Judge Hock said she again received a cash code and withdrew the money, however, she later disclosed it to her mother.

The court heard a year earlier, McInnes had five calls with a second victim, requesting her to take off her clothes, “play with herself” and at one time he requested her to kiss her friend.

Much of McInnes’ offending is too graphic to detail, but included him masturbating multiple times.

At one stage he told the second victim “the more you do, the more money you get” and he said if they met up she would receive $1000.

Before the victim blocked McInnes, Judge Hock said he had paid her $350 altogether.

The court heard months later the victim’s psychologist alerted police to McInnes’ offending after a session together.

He was arrested in May 2022 at his Randwick home where he began to “shake and cry”, saying it was “all my fault, I am not even going to try and justify it”.

Judge Hock told the court McInnes’ offending was “extremely serious” and children were “entitled” to use the internet without sexual predators communicating with them.

“Because of the victims’ very young age … the effects of this offending may not become apparent until they become more mature and fully understand [the] seriousness,” she said.

The court heard McInnes had worked as a personal trainer and he had disclosed a pornography addiction to a doctor.

Judge Hock accepted he had shown “genuine” remorse and he was subjected to a “violent assault” by a group of men in custody “directly related to the nature of his offending”.

McInnes was sentenced to four years jail, with a two years and nine months non-parole period.

He is eligible for release in October 2025.