Newcastle singer Daniel ‘Jimmy’ Hanson facing 111 sexual and indecent assault charges
A Newcastle singer accused of using his status and popularity to sexually groom young girls and women he met at live gigs, has had 51 additional charges laid against him, two of which hold a maximum of life imprisonment.
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A Newcastle musician who allegedly sexually and indecently abused numerous girls and young women, could now face life in prison if convicted, after prosecutors laid two fresh counts of a rarely-used charge, strengthened following recommendations from the royal commission.
Daniel “Jimmy” Hanson — who was lead singer for well-known Newcastle bands ‘Falling for Beloved’ and ‘We Built Atlantis’ — is now facing 111 charges relating to 15 alleged victims over almost a decade, after detectives added a further 51 charges this week.
The fresh charges include two counts of persistent child abuse, a charge that was strengthened following the royal commission two years ago and now carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The charge of being an adult maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child can only be approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and was reworded in legislation in 2018 following recommendations from the royal commission.
Police allege the 32-year-old used his status and popularity to seek sex from girls and young woman he met at live gigs he played at.
Police commenced an eight-month investigation into Mr Hanson in March last year following multiple complaints.
Hanson was first charged with ten sexual and indecent assault charges in August after being arrested at his workplace in Darby St, Cooks Hill.
Those included four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a victim under 16, two counts of indecent assault, one count of incite to commit an act of indecency with a victim 16 years and over, and three counts of common assault.
In November last year, Mr Hanson was slapped with an additional 45 sexual assault offences.
Those included 26 counts of aggravated sexual assault, sexual intercourse without consent, five counts of aggravated indecent assault, five counts of indecent assault, common assault and seven counts to incite a person under the age of 16 to commit an act of indecency.
Again in late April, five more charges were added to the list, of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault and two counts of incite a person under the age of 16 to commit an act of indecency.
The latest charges this month mounted an extra 51, totalling 111 charges.
These include two counts of adult maintain unlawful relationship with a child, 23 counts of have sexual intercourse with a person between 14 and 16, four counts of have sexual intercourse of a person between 10 and 14, 10 counts of indecent assault of a person under 16, eight counts of aggravated indecent assault of a victim under 16, and one charge each of assault with act of indecency, incite person under 16 to commit an act of indecency, sexual intercourse without consent and commit an act of indecency with person under 16.
Mr Hanson’s matters were briefly mentioned in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
The DPP told the court it was a complex case and asked for a lengthy adjournment. The next court date is in October.