Bega locals’ furious paedophile Neil Duncan given bail until sentencing

Parents on the NSW south coast are outraged that a convicted paedophile and former pony club president has walked free on bail while he awaits sentence.

The Attorney-General has ­intervened in the case of a convicted paedophile and former pony club president who has walked free on bail while he awaits sentence, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Outraged parents at Bega, on the state’s south coast, have slammed the judge’s decision, and warned many locals may be unaware of Neil Duncan’s convictions and may “unwittingly allow their children” to go near him.

They said the case was similar to that of Bega paedophile Maurice Van Ryn, the former boss of Bega Cheese, who was granted bail in 2014 after pleading guilty to child sex ­offences. Van Ryn’s bail was only withdrawn after a public outcry prompted an intervention.

Duncan, 67, was earlier this month found guilty by a jury at the District Court sitting in Queanbeyan of eight counts of sexually touching girls aged between 10 and 16. Judge Robyn Tupman allowed him conditional bail pending his August 5 sentence, despite an application by the prosecution to lock him up.

Duncan is facing a maximum sentence of 10 years’ jail on each offence.

Neil Duncan has been found guilty of eight counts of sexually touching girls aged between 10 and 16.

“I can’t understand it. He will be going to jail for these offences,” one legal source said.

Attorney-General Mark Speakman said he had ordered a transcript of the decision.

“While stringent bail conditions have been imposed in this case, I have ordered the transcript and will be reviewing it as soon as possible,” Mr Speakman said on Thursday.

Duncan, of Coopers Gully near Bega, was stood down from his role as president of the Cobargo Pony Club after he was arrested by police in November 2020.

He had pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of sexually touching five girls aged between 10 and 16 between December 2018 and March 2021, and was acquitted of four of those counts.

Parents whose children were victims of Van Ryn said they were “extremely concerned” about the development in Duncan’s case.

“We are extremely concerned to see a pattern of judicial decisions emerge in the decision to continue the bail of convicted child sex abuser, Neil Duncan,” a spokesman for the families, who cannot be identified, said.

“The ... case against Neil Duncan was held in Queanbeyan, well away from Bega where the offending occurred.

“Therefore many local people may be unaware that he is now a convicted paedophile.

“Parents may unwittingly allow their children into the presence of this man due to ignorance of his conviction status.”