Alleged predator accused of luring boys to ‘teen paradise’ at regional Queensland property

A travelling biscuit salesman on trial for an alleged child sex crime has denied accusations he created an “adult-free paradise” for boys to “cut loose” at his properties in rural Queensland.

Regional Queensland man from Leyburn, Evan Thomas, pleaded not guilty to historic child sex crimes before a Toowoomba District Court jury during a trial in July 2025.

A regional Queensland man accused of sexually assaulting a young teenage boy has pleaded not guilty to the alleged historic child sex crime.

The 66-year-old Leyburn man, Evan David Thomas, pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecently dealing with a boy under the age of 15 before a Toowoomba jury on Tuesday, July 15.

Mr Thomas gave evidence during the trial where he denied touching the boy’s penis after walking in on him in an unlocked toilet.

The alleged victim told the court he froze when Mr Thomas entered the toilet and groped his exposed penis for about five to 10 minutes.

Leyburn man Evan Thomas pleaded not guilty to historic child sex crimes before a Toowoomba District Court jury during a trial in July 2025.

The court heard the alleged sexual assault occurred decades ago when the Woolworths night fill worker was working as a travelling biscuit and cake salesman.

His travel itinerary spanned 800km, with Mr Thomas often visiting supermarkets in Toowoomba, Dalby, Chinchilla, Roma, and Charleville.

The court heard allegations that Mr Thomas showed an interest in teen boys and would gift them packets of expired biscuits.

Crown prosecutor Hamish McIntyre accused Mr Thomas, who owned a number of properties southwest of Toowoomba, of creating an “adult-free paradise” for teen boys to “cut loose”.

He put to Mr Thomas that he was lonely and looking for companionship.

Mr Thomas said he wasn’t lonely, nor did he entertain teen boys on his properties.

The court heard Mr Thomas routinely attended deceased estate sales and garage sales in the Toowoomba region, where he would buy every item that wasn’t sold.

Defence barrister Levis Menolotto told the jury the allegations were lies, and questioned what he claimed were inconsistencies in the complainant’s reports to police compared to evidence he gave on the witness stand.

Mr Menolotto also questioned why it took more than two decades for a report to be made to the police.

During the trial, a number of men who met Mr Thomas when they were teenagers, told the court they would visit Mr Thomas’s property for recreational purposes.
Prosecutor McIntyre told the jury the complainant was honest and forthcoming when he gave evidence, noting one of the two charges against Mr Thomas was withdrawn after the man said he honestly couldn’t remember the exact details of what Mr Thomas allegedly did to him.

Despite pleading not guilty of two charges, Mr Thomas only stands accused of one charge of indecently dealing with a boy under the age of 16.

The jury began deliberating on Thursday afternoon, July 17, and continued into Friday morning.

Originally published as Alleged predator accused of luring boys to ‘teen paradise’ at regional Queensland property