Armidale polyamorous man James Davis hit with more charges

An accused cult leader and alleged rapist has been hit with further charges, as his lawyer opposes a further extension application by police.

Six alleged victims are now involved in the mounting case against a “kinky” accused cult leader and alleged rapist, who has been hit with a further 18 charges, a court has heard.

The new charges were laid against polyamorous Armidale man James Robert Davis — who has five ‘wives’ — on Monday by the NSW Police, the Central Local Court has been told.

James Robert Davis's five ‘wives’. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Davis is facing about 60 charges over a 20-year period, which include kidnapping, strangulation, assault, serious animal cruelty, detain a person and sexual intercourse without consent.

Twenty seven charges relate to transmitting child abuse material or planning to meet a child under 16 years old for sexual activity.

He has also been charged with possessing three assault rifles, three smoke grenades and flares on his Armidale property in April.

He has not yet been required to enter a plea to the charges.

The original three charges laid by the Australian Federal Police, including reducing a person to slavery, possessing a slave and causing a person to enter into or remain in servitude, were withdrawn in September.

On Thursday in court, the police prosecuter sought an extension on the case which was vehemently opposed by Davis’ lawyer Abigail Bannister.

The court heard a woman came forward in August to file a complaint, before sitting down for an 11-and-a-half hour interview over three days.

James Davis is facing multiple charges. Picture supplied

“We are concerned about the extension … late in the piece there are more and more and more charges,” Ms Bannister told the court.

Ms Bannister argued the reasons given for the extension in a private affidavit were not in the interest of justice and her client was paying the price — who has been in jail with his bail refused since his arrest in March.

“We’re not hearing about the complexity (of the case), we’re hearing about the delay of analysing and transcribing lengthy interviews and recent changes. It seems to be more of a resource issue than a complexity issue,” she said.

But magistrate Robert Williams told the court the Department of Public Prosecutions should not be punished for delays as it only took carriage of the case in October.

“It would be difficult to criticise the DPP as they have only recently taken carriage of the proceedings,” Mr Willaims said.

The case was adjourned until December 21.

Davis’ legal team has previously argued in court Davis was involved in “consensual BDSM relationships” and his “kinky” lifestyle choices.

“My client won‘t be on trial for being a member of a cult even if, ultimately, that was accepted as a fact,” barrister, Ian Lloyd QC, previously told a court.

“There is no crime in lifestyle choices, no crime associated with consensual BDSM, these matters are not crimes and he has not been charged.”