Artist Phillip John Burton in Taree district court on child sexual assault charges

A high profile artist – facing child sex abuse charges – has admitted to wearing a robe once, but denied in court that he claimed to be a prophet who could remove evil spirits.

Phillip Burton is a well known artist and sign writer/muralist. Picture: Facebook.

A well known Mid-North Coast artist and sign writer facing child sex abuse charges has admitted to wearing a robe on one occasion during a ceremony, but denies he claimed to be a religious prophet who could remove evil spirits.

The details have been outlined in the jury trial of Phillip John Burton at Taree District Court.

The 67-year-old is facing sixteen charges in relation to the same victim – pleading not guilty to them all.

Burton is well known for his large murals and sign-writing and his ‘kombi and surf art’ in collaboration with the annual Old Bar Beach Festival.

Phillip John Burton leaves Taree District Court on Friday September 1.

Burton is also a regular at local markets, drawing portrait-style cartoons of customers.

The trial began on August 15 and the jury has heard the alleged offending was conducted within a ‘religious context’.

Burton admitted to being a Christian and wearing a robe once, but denied claims made by the complainant that he professed to be a prophet who could remove evil spirits.

Phillip Burton is well known in the Taree and Old Bar community.

He also denied that he told the complainant he could give her an anointed kiss to make her a virgin again and that their relationship had been approved by God after he had spent a lifetime fighting evil spirits.

Burton is facing sixteen charges in relation to the same alleged victim: commit act of indecency with victim under 10 years; two charges of indecent assault where victim is under the age of 10 years ; six charges of aggravated indecent assault with the victim under the age of 16 years; four charges of aggravated sexual assault; and three charges of aggravated indecency.

Phillip Burton is well known at local markets drawing cartoons for people. Picture: Facebook.

The charges relate to a range of alleged offending including unlawful fellatio, digital penetration and vaginal and anal intercourse.

The court heard he has no prior offences and has the support of his wife, daughter and sister.

The jury retired to consider their verdict on Friday afternoon.

Originally published as Artist Phillip John Burton in Taree district court on child sexual assault charges