Police officer charged with perjury in relation to Jack de Belin, Callan Sinclair sexual assault case

A former police officer has been charged with perjury following a three-year investigation into the sexual assault case involving football star Jack de Belin and his mate Callan Sinclair.

A former police officer has been charged with perjury ­following a three-year investigation into the sexual assault case involving football star Jack de Belin and his mate ­Callan Sinclair.

Officers attached to Professional Standards Command commenced Strike Force Ephemeris to investigate the conduct of officers involved in the Wollongong District Court case in February 2020.

“Following extensive inquiries and upon receiving advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, police have charged a former detective senior constable with giving false evidence under oath amounting to perjury,” NSW Police said in a statement.

The 48-year-old man was issued a future court attendance notice to appear before Wollongong Local Court on June 19.

The Sunday Telegraph revealed in September last year that the parents of de Belin and Sinclair were furious about the delays in the internal investigation after two high-profile trials, which both ended with hung juries and the charges withdrawn.

“This is not good enough, our lives are on hold,” said Mr de Belin’s mum Cathy at the time. Mr de Belin and Mr Sinclair had each pleaded not guilty to five counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Jack de Belin and Callan Sinclair were found not guilty of sexual assault.

Phone transcripts played in court showed both men talking to family members and friends, adamant the sex was consensual.

They were also recorded speaking to each other, agreeing that if they told the truth they would be fine.

Police admitted they accessed texts and emails between the men and their lawyers that was covered by legal professional privilege.

On Friday, police confirmed investigations under Strike Force Ephemeris were continuing.

The woman at the centre of the case met de Belin and Sinclair in Wollongong on the night of December 8, 2018.

The trio left the Mr Crown hotel, a popular night spot, in the early hours of the morning and the woman told police she thought they were on their way to another nightclub before stopping into a North Wollongong unit, which belonged to a cousin of Jack de Belin.

The court heard the woman alleged the men assaulted her, ignoring her protests. The men both testified the sexual encounter was consensual, with the woman acting “normal” and “appearing to enjoy it”.

After the two trials, the men’s parents agreed to sit down and talk because they had no doubt their boys were seen as famous “scalps” by the police.

Mrs de Belin said she believed in her heart her NRL star son never stood a chance of getting a fair trial.

“The hardest of campaigns was driven to incarcerate two innocent men, one of whom made a moral mistake only,” Mrs de Belin said.

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