ADF member Caleb Horner denies grooming and sexually abusing 12-year-old boy

A Defence Force member accused of grooming and sexually abusing a young boy will stand trial after flagging plans to fight the allegations.

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An Australian Defence Force member will stand trial next month after denying allegations he raped a young boy after grooming him on social media.

Caleb Horner pleaded not guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to 44 charges relating to the same alleged victim, including sexual penetration of a child younger than 16.

Mr Horner is also accused of sexually touching the child, producing child abuse material, forcing the child to put his hands down his pants, touching the child’s groin while driving and masturbating in front of him.

Caleb Horner was charged with 44 offences after allegedly grooming and raping a young boy. Picture: Instagram

He will stand trial in the County Court after denying the allegations. Picture: Instagram

The charges relate to alleged incidents between February and April 2020.

According to court documents, Mr Horner is alleged to have first contacted the 12-year-old boy in 2018.

The boy allegedly tried to block Mr Horner before the accused reconnected with him two years later.

Mr Horner, 36, was arrested at his base in November last year and was kept in custody until he was flown to Victoria.

He remains behind bars on remand ahead of his trial on April 11.