Robert Eccles fronts court for alleged sex offences

A man accused of child sex offences fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday.

Robert Eccles, 70 faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday, August 28, 2023. Picture: Supplied

A man accused of sexually assaulting a teenager fronted the Geelong Magistrates Court on Monday for a committal hearing.

Robert Charles Eccles, 70, previously worked in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court in his role as a Koori Court elder.

Mr Eccles pleaded not guilty to six charges relating to the child sex offences.

Court documents allege between 2012 and 2013, Mr Eccles sexually assaulted the complainant on a number of occasions.

The documents state the alleged offending conducted by Mr Eccles included “stroking” the complainants genitals as well as “putting the complainants penis into his mouth”.

“The complainant says the accused would always ejaculate and sometimes say “that was f---ing brilliant”, court documents state.

The court heard Mr Eccles’ alleged offending came to light when the complainant’s partner asked him about a text message he received during dinner, which read “thanks for the chat today”.

Giving evidence in court, the partner said she was concerned about the unknown contact within his phone and was surprised at his reaction when she glanced at the phone during dinner.

The witness said her partner acted erratically and wanted to leave the dinner table and “did not want to talk about it” when she asked who the text message was from.

“Based on his emotions he was in tears and was unable to speak,” she told the court.

Mr Eccles’ lawyer, John Blackley, asked the witness if the complainant had disclosed what had happened.

The court heard the witness originally told her partner the text message was from a friend, but later confirmed the text message was from Mr Eccles.

The witness said she asked him if he had been touched by Mr Eccles as a result of recent media reports to which he replied, “yes”.

“He was very emotional and he didn’t elaborate,” she said.

The court was told the witness phoned a family member of the complainant who then arrived some time later.

The family member also gave evidence in court and said she had been told the complainant had been sexually assaulted by Mr Eccles by the complainant’s partner at the time.

Detective Senior Constable Andrew Kirkpatrick told the court he became aware of the text messages the victim received from Mr Eccles in January this year, but had not examined the mobile phone.

Mr Eccles will appear in the Melbourne County Court for a directions hearing on September 25.

Originally published as Robert Eccles fronts court for alleged sex offences