Peter Gourlay: Moruya man has new child sexual assault charges added, some dropped

A man accused of sexually assaulting multiple children on the NSW south coast between 1987 and 2016 has seen a number of his charges withdrawn while others were added.

Police allege Peter Gourlay sexually assaulted the children in Moruya.

An elderly man accused of sexually assaulting a number of children on the NSW south coast between 1987 and 2016 has seen a handful of his charges dropped, while being slapped with a number of new charges.

Peter Gourlay, 71, was absent from Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday when his matter was mentioned, represented by lawyer Adam Sumbak.

The Moruya man was originally charged with sexual assault, indecent assault, two counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged between 10 and 16 and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Gourlay saw both sexual intercourse charges, sexual assault and both aggravated sexual assault charges withdrawn, before the court confirmed a massive eight charges were being added.

The 71-year-old man is now charged with three counts of indecent assault, as well as three counts of sexual assault and four counts of sexual intercourse with a child without consent.

Peter Gourlay’s matter was heard in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.

Gourlay has not yet entered pleas to the latest charges.

Police allege Gourlay sexually assaulted three children between 1987 and most recently, 2016, with all assaults allegedly occurring in Moruya – 20km south of Batemans Bay.

The ages of the children allegedly range from 10-years-old to 11-years-old.

Following extensive investigations into the alleged conduct, police arrested Gourlay on November 10, 2023. He was released on conditional bail a short time later.

Magistrate Doug Dick adjourned the matter to allow the new charges to be certified.

Gourlay’s matter will return to the Batemans Bay Local Court on July 8 this year.

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