Sydney real estate agent charged with child sexual abuse faces trial

A former real estate agent from the Sutherland Shire is on trial for sexually abusing a child, with a court hearing the complainant later sent the accused a message threatening to “skin him alive”.

The Downing Centre Courts. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

A former real estate agent from the Sutherland Shire has been accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a boy five years his junior over six years, with the complainant accusing the man of ruining his life.

The former realtor – who cannot be named – has been charged with nine sexual offences against a boy who was 12 in two instances, 13 in five, and 17 in two more.

He has pleaded not guilty to all nine offences – saying the first seven when the boy was under the age of consent never occurred, and that the final two occurred during a consensual sexual encounter.

The former realtor is now defending the allegations at a Sydney District Court trial before Judge James Bennett.

In the first incident when the boy was 12, the Crown case is that the former realtor went on a drive through Cronulla with the boy, masturbated in front of him, and then had the boy masturbate him in the car’s back seat until he ejaculated.

The former realtor denies this incident entirely.

A pixelated image of a former real estate agent from the Sutherland Shire who is on trial for child sex offences in July 2023.

In the second incident when the boy was 13, the Crown case is that the former realtor and the boy wound up alone in a fire stairwell at a Cronulla unit complex.

It is alleged the former realtor masturbated the boy, then crouched down and performed oral sex on the boy.

“I expect the complainant will tell you the accused said ‘you’ve grown so much’,” the barrister for the Crown told a jury of 15.

The Crown case is that the former realtor then convinced the boy to crouch down before shoving his penis into the boy’s mouth, before urging the boy to attempt anal intercourse with him.

“I expect you will hear the accused said ‘keep trying’, the boy said there was no penetration, and the accused said ‘maybe next time’,” the barrister for the Crown said.

The former realtor also denies every aspect of these allegations.

In the final incident when the boy was 17, the Crown case is that the former realtor entered the boy’s bedroom after visiting a friend who lived at the boy’s address.

He then allegedly touched the boy’s penis under his blankets, before the Crown alleges he performed oral sex on the boy.

The matter is being heard at District Court in the Downing Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“The accused then (allegedly) stopped, stood up, undressed, and said words to the effect of ‘you are so much bigger, let’s try now’.”

The Crown case is that the pair then had sexual intercourse – for which there is no criminal charge – before the boy stopped and said something like “I can’t do this, this is gross”.

The former realtor says these incidents occurred but that they were consensual and formed part of a broader sexual encounter on that occasion.

The former realtor will also allege the pair had a number of subsequent consensual sexual encounters, including at a hotel during an overseas trip.

In June 2018, the court heard the complainant sent the former realtor a message on Facebook with a series of accusations.

“F** you, I’m going to kill you next time. You are in my grasp. You’re a f**king sexual predator. You have ruined my life you c**t. I’m not scared of you anymore. Next time I see you will be your last moment on this planet. F**k you. I will skin you alive,” the complainant wrote.

The complainant disclosed the alleged abuse to select family and friends in 2018 and 2019, before finally making a complaint to police in August 2019.

The former realtor was arrested and charged in May 2020.

His barrister Mr Stewart told the jury what the former realtor said when he was arrested.

“He said ‘it’s not true, but I understand (the allegations)’ – that remains his position,” Mr Stewart said.

The former realtor will also allege he messaged the complainant after returning to Australia from an overseas trip, saying “let me know if you want to muck around like last time”.

“The complainant replied ‘that won’t happen again but we will have drinks or something with the boys’,” the defence barrister continued.

The complainant will begin giving evidence on Thursday.

The trial is expected to run for three weeks, accounting for time where the judge will intermittently attend to other ongoing matters.