Neil Duncan: Magistrate bans former pony club president from events over alleged child sex assaults
Neil Duncan denies the 16 alleged child sex assault charges brought against him but a magistrate has moved to ban him from the south coast pony club circuit anyway. Full update.
The South Coast News
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A former pony club president charged with 16 child sex assault offences against five alleged victims, one as young as 10, has been banned from attending events after his bail was varied.
Neil Duncan, 66, of Bega, pleaded not guilty in Bega Local Court to 16 charges of intentionally sexually touching a child between the age of 10 and 16, and two charges of common assault.
Prosecutors withdrew eight charges of sexually touching another person in aggravating circumstances.
Duncan was forced to remain outside court after travelling through the Covid-19 hotspot of Tamworth yesterday, the court heard.
Crown prosecutor Grant Gaynor successfully applied to have Duncan’s bail varied, banning him from attending pony club events, arguing the large number of children would be put at risk.
Mr Gaynor told the court “horse riding is a common theme throughout the allegations”.
“A significant number of children are likely to be at these events,” he told the court.
He said the number of alleged victims had now grown to five, and a ban on pony club events would “mitigate any risk of further offending”.
According to court documents Duncan allegedly assaulted the girls over a 15 month period between 2018 and 2020.
It is alleged in court documents the offences took place at Ingebirah, Coopers Gully, Bega and inside Kosciuszko National Park, and involved five complainants, one aged 12 at the time and another just 10 years old.
Police allege Duncan touched the 10 year old’s chest over her clothing and under her shirt in March 2019 at Bega, also allegedly assaulting her.
They allege he touched the 12-year-old over her clothing at Ingebirah in 2019, and put his hand under a 13-year-old girl’s bra and underwear at the national park in 2018.
They also allege he put his hand under another 13-year-old girl’s shirt, massaging her breasts and also allegedly putting his hand between her legs over her clothing while at the national park the same year.
A south coast pony club confirmed Duncan was stood down from his role as president of the club after he was arrested by police in November last year.
Magistrate Doug Dick denied Mr Gaynor’s request to have Duncan banned from being alone with children without another adult present as it would be “near impossible to enforce” and “innocent breaches” could be possible.
Duncan’s lawyer argued against the crown’s application, saying his client needed to “get on with his life”.
“If a child came up to him in the supermarket he would be in breach of bail,” he told the court.
He told the court his client’s alleged offending had occurred while he was alone with no other adults present, and there was “no indication” of any further alleged offending since his arrest last year.
Mr Duncan will face trial at the Sydney Downing Centre District Court on September 8.
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