Port Stephens dance teacher Ryan Hards accused of groping, sex with teen girls

A Port Stephens dance teacher has been accused of sexually abusing his students. Now, the extent of the allegations against Ryan Hards can be revealed.

A Port Stephens dance teacher is accused of preying on teenagers for a number of years, with police alleging he groped one girl’s bare breasts and vagina and had sex with another girl while on a cruise.

Ryan Shane Hards, 27, was charged by detectives from Strike Force Wairakei, established in March to investigate allegations of his inappropriate behaviour towards students.

Police allege Hards, part-owner and artistic director at The Collective Dance Academy at Salamander Bay, sexually abused four students and another girl over a period of five years.

Court documents have for the first time revealed the extent of the police allegations against him.

Police allege dance teacher Ryan Shane Hards sexually abused girls aged between 12 and 17. Picture: Facebook.

In a detailed court attendance notice, police allege Hards indecently assaulted a 12-year-old female student on two occasions between 2013 and 2014.

They allege he at one time “placed his hand up her shirt and stroked her bare breast” and at another time “put his hand into her underpants and rubbed her bare vagina”.

Police allege Hards twice had sex with a different female student, aged 15, in 2014.

In documents it’s alleged he also “grinded the front of his body against the front of her body and squeezed her buttocks”.

Police allege he indecently assaulted a third girl that same year.

“(Hards) put his hand up the shirt of (the girl) and grabbed her on the bare breast, then put his hand down into the underpants of (the girl) and touched the top of her vagina,” police claim in the documents.

In 2017 police allege Hards had sex with an underage girl on a cruise ship in waters off Jervis Bay.

In 2018 police allege he had sex with another girl, aged 17, who was under his authority as his dance student.

Hards was aged 19 to 25 at the time of the alleged offences.

Hards appeared in Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday. Picture: Darren Pateman.

He has been charged with 12 offences, including three counts of aggravated indecent assault; three counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 years of age, aggravated sex assault – victim under the age of 16 years; aggravated sex assault; assault with act of indecency; common assault; and sexual intercourse reckless as to consent.

Hards has yet to formally enter any plea and his lawyer William Buxton this week told Raymond Terrace Local Court his client intended to fight the charges.

“He absolutely and categorically denies each and every one of the allegations,” Mr Buxton said.

“He says he is not guilty and there is no substance to the complaints whatsoever.”

In a bail hearing Mr Buxton argued Hards faced a “terrifying” wait behind bars if held on remand, with a District Court trial unlikely to go ahead before April next year.

But Magistrate Ian Cheetham said such a delay was “not out of the ordinary” and not reason enough for Hards to be released.

Mr Cheetham also knocked back the suggestion Hards should be bailed on the basis of having a wheat allergy, telling the court “no medical evidence” of a diagnosis or treatment had been provided.

Mr Buxton previously said Hards “could die” from anaphylaxis behind bars without his Epipen, but Detective Senior Constable Michelle Lawson revealed he wasn’t carrying the medical device at the time of his arrest.

The court heard a letter written by Hards to one of his alleged victims “corroborated” the allegations and would be a key piece of evidence in the prosecution case.

Hards was a dancer teacher at The Collective Dance Academy, Salamander Bay. Picture: Alistair Brightman.

Magistrate Cheetham said the charges were particularly serious given Hards was a trusted member of the dance community.

“He was conducting dancing tuition and in the course of the dancing tuition became well-known and well-liked within families,” Mr Cheetham said.

“He at times had access, allegedly, to the homes of some of the alleged victims.

“Sometimes he was staying there and sometimes he was visiting … but the allegations are largely in the presence of the alleged victim alone.”

Mr Cheetham ultimately refused bail, ordering Hards to remain in custody until his next court appearance on August 23.

Hards looked to the ceiling as the decision was handed down, while his family, in court to support him for a second consecutive day, left in tears.

The Collective Dance Academy later issued a statement confirming Hards was no longer involved in the school.

“Since becoming informed of the ongoing police investigation the person involved has stood down,” the school said in a statement.

“We are taking the necessary steps to ensure the well-being and safety of our students and staff.

“The alleged matters under investigation occurred during a timeframe we were not in operation and (when Hards was) under another employer.

“We completely and categorically condemn these alleged actions. No further comment will be made given the ongoing police investigation.”

Strike Force Wairakei investigations continue and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.