Ronald Stewart: Moruya Aboriginal elder accused of rape breaks bail conditions

A South Coast Aboriginal elder accused of raping a child has broken strict bail conditions, a court has heard.

Moruya Aboriginal elder Ronald Stewart has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and intentionally sexually touch a child without consent.

An Aboriginal elder accused of raping a child on the NSW South Coast late last year has failed to adhere to strict bail conditions, a court has heard.

Ronald Stewart, 60, is currently before Batemans Bay Local Court, charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child and intentionally sexually touch a child without consent.

The Moruya man is yet to enter pleas to the “extremely serious” charges.

However, Stewart – who was initially granted bail on November 16 last year – reappeared in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday, where his charges were mentioned and a new sequence was added to his file, noting he failed to adhere to the strict bail conditions.

The court heard Steward failed to report to Moruya Police Station this month, however a specific date was not provided.

Failing to report to Moruya Police Station daily breaches Stewart’s strict bail conditions, which also states he must stay 100m away from and not contact the alleged victim, not contact or go near anyone under the age of 16 and cannot consume alcohol or drugs unless prescribed by a doctor.

However, Stewart’s lawyer Adam Sumbak said his client acknowledged he failed to report to police, noting it was due to communication issues.

Ronald Stewart’s charges were mentioned in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.

“He has reported every other day and he will continue to do so,” he said.

Magistrate Doug Dick agreed, noting it was not a concern, before continuing Stewart’s bail.

Stewart’s sexual assault charges were also mentioned in court on Monday, before Mr Sumbak confirmed a brief of evidence had been served to the DPP.

Documents tendered to Batemans Bay Local Court state Stewart, who is an Aboriginal elder in the Moruya area, allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl on November 15 last year in a Moruya home, where he was arrested by police the same day.

The court previously heard prosecution had a “very strong case” regarding the alleged facts of the offence and Batemans Bay Court registrar Wendy Harris previously labelled the alleged offence as “opportunistic” when bail was first granted.

Mr Sumbak requested an adjournment be made to allow for Stewart’s charges to be certified, a request not opposed by Mr Dick.

Stewart’s matter will return to Batemans Bay Local Court on April 8.