Neil Duncan: Pony club paedophile’s fate delayed due to catheter removal

A convicted paedophile and former pony club president has had his judgment delayed after a catheter removal meant he couldn’t travel to hear his sentence.

Pony club president and convicted paedophile Neil Duncan pictured outside King St Court in July. Picture: Nikki Short

An elderly paedophile’s fate was delayed once more after a routine medical procedure deemed him unfit to travel to a Sydney court, which heard how him and his family have been “ostracised from pony clubs”.

Neil Duncan, 67, originally of Coopers Gully near Bega but now residing in Tamworth, was found guilty in June of eight counts of sexually touching girls aged between 10 and 16 over a two-year period from 2018 when he was president of the Cobargo Pony Club on the NSW south coast.

He was stood down from the role after his arrest in November 2020.

Duncan was supposed to appear in person today at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court to hear the punishment for his crimes, but court heard his catheter was removed earlier today, deeming him unfit to make the journey to the Harbour City.

Duncan had prostate cancer surgery in July and court heard how his illness and treatment would be “ongoing”.

Neil Duncan remains on bail while undergoing cancer treatment. Picture: Seb Haggett

Neil Duncan leaves Kings Street Court in Sydney in July. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Instead, Duncan appeared via video link – decked in a black suit and tie – where the final submissions were made to Judge Robyn Tupman.

Defence barrister Richard Pontello SC argued Duncan had been pilloried in the media – he had previously described media coverage around his client as a “kangaroo court” – and highlighted the impact on both the offender and his family.

Neil Duncan will learn his sentence in November.

“Pillorying in the media has resulted in hardship (for Duncan),” Mr Pontello said.

“I’ve also just heard this today, and have no evidence, but banks don’t want to do business with him and are threatening to close his accounts.”

Mr Pontello submitted the ‘media pillorying’ of his client equated to extra-curial punishment, who has been banished from pony clubs across the south coast, as well as his family.

“No local pony club will allow his family to join,” he said.

“They’ve been ostracised from the community and pony clubs.”

Mr Pontello told the court Duncan was recently arrested at an agricultural show in Tamworth in front of his family, for what officers wrongly thought was a bail condition breach.

However, crown prosecutor Corrie Goodhand dismissed the notion it equated to extra-curial punishment and said the coverage wasn’t elevated to that level.

There was community uproar when Duncan was granted bail for the purposes of cancer treatment in June, where he has remained ever since.

“I can’t understand it. He will be going to jail for these offences,” one legal source previously told The Daily Telegraph.

Duncan will return to court next month to be handed his sentence.