Melbourne basketball identity Matthew Cervelli charged with child sex offending: Court

A Melbourne basketball identity has stirred an international storm after he allegedly sexually abused a boy who later became a UK cop.

Melbourne basketball identity Matthew Cervelli has been charged with child sex offences. Picture: Gianni Francis

A Melbourne basketball identity has become the centre of an international storm after a young boy he allegedly sexually violated grew up to become a UK cop.

Matthew Cervelli, 43, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with multiple child sex offences.

Cervelli, who was charged with sexual penetration of a child, allegedly sexually assaulted a young boy on several occasions in Melbourne in 1999.

It’s alleged Cervelli, who was also charged with indecent act with a child, penetrated and abused the boy multiple times.

Box Hill Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team charged Cervelli in April this year following a lengthy international police investigation.

The court heard the alleged victim left Australia and became a UK police member.

The alleged victim informed UK authorities of the allegations who encouraged him to pursue an investigation, the court was told.

Cervelli was charged with sexual penetration of a child. Facebook.

The complaint was initialised in 2021 but Cervelli was not interviewed until last year before being charged in April this year.

The prosecution submitted the delay in the matter progressing through the court was due to issues associated with communications between the Director of Public Prosecutions and UK authorities.

The court heard “foreign dignitaries” were also involved in the matter.

The international nature of the matter which included witnesses appearing remotely from the UK has pushed the potential committal date out by about 10 months.

Cervelli, a prominent local basketball identity, had his bail extended to front court at a later date.