James David Perry told police he believed a group of girls was ‘ganging up’ on him

A North West man accused of sexual crimes told police the people involved were “ganging up” on him and trying to get him in trouble. Latest from court:

Burnie magistrates and supreme court file, Burnie court illustrative, Burnie supreme, Burnie magistrates court 2025. Picture: Elise Kaine

A man accused of sex crimes against six school aged girls told police a “friendship group” was trying to get him in trouble, the Burnie Supreme Court heard.

James David Perry denied touching a 14-year-old girl in an interview recorded on 8 January, 2021.

In the interview, police asked Mr Perry — then 21-years-old — about an alleged indecent assault against the girl where she accused him of touching her without her consent.

The Sassafras man has pleaded not guilty to 16 charges including eight counts of rape, six counts of penetrative sexual abuse of a child or young person and more.

The crimes were alleged to have occurred in 2018-19 against six school aged girls.

In the police interview shown in court on Tuesday Mr Perry told police he was aware of accusations against him from one girl who he had previously had a non-sexual relationship with.

Mr Perry said that he and the 14-year-old girl were “keen on each other” but they had never engaged in sexual activity.

“I never ever touched her, there’s no way … I’ve never done anything, touched her in any way,” he told police.

“She seems to reckon I have because she said the same thing over message.”

The two had exchanged topless photographs on Snapchat, and Mr Perry said there was a “possibility” he would have asked the girl to send nude photographs but he couldn’t remember.

Mr Perry said a friendship group was “ganging up” on him to try and get him in trouble because he had “de-friended” two friends on social media.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

Originally published as James David Perry told police he believed a group of girls was ‘ganging up’ on him