Blue Mountains circus school: All charges dropped

Four people who police alleged were part of a Blue Mountains child-sex ring have walked free from court after all charges against them were dropped.

Therese Ann Cook, 60, Yyani Cook-Williams, 31, (pictured) Clarissa Meredith, 25 and Paul Christopher Cook, 54, have had their charges dropped. Cook-Williams pictured leaving court in 2019. Picture: Tracey Nearmy

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Four people who police alleged were part of a Blue Mountains child-sex ring walked free from court today after all charges were dropped.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew 115 charges against the accused ringleader Therese Cook, 60, her brother Paul Cook, 54, and her daughters Yyani Cook-Williams, 31, and Clarissa Meredith, 25, in Penrith Local Court this morning.

Therese Cook had all charges against her dropped by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

Police alleged in the proceedings that Therese Cook was the ringleader who participated and organised the systemic rape and detention of three boys under the age of 10 between 2014 and 2016.

Yyani Cook-Williams had all charges against her dropped by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It was alleged by police that she incited her daughters Cook-Williams and Meredith to have sex with the boys while Paul Cook filmed it.

All four accused entered not guilty pleas in 2018, and strongly maintained their innocence throughout the process.

Paul Cook (left), pictured with defence lawyer Bryan Wrench, had all charges against him dropped by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

The family’s defence lawyer, Bryan Wrench, said he expected related apprehended violence orders (AVOs) against the accused to follow the same course.

In a tweet, lawyer Chris Murphy thanked those who had come forward to support the “wrongfully accused”.

Clarissa Meredith had all charges against her dropped by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“Blue Mountains family separated by court restrictions for the last 2 years - 4 of them spending 206 days remanded in goal and 3 children spending 4 months locked up - now they can be united,” he tweeted.

Tweet by lawyer Chris Murphy after the charges the dropped.

However, a police prosecutor said they weren’t in a position at this time to withdraw the AVOs.

A court heard in March last year that one of the alleged victims had written a note saying “mum I’m really sorry I’ve been lying about the whole thing”.

The family will next appear before Katoomba Local Court on March 3 relating to the apprehended violence orders.