Adelaide electrician Heath Chance Mason, 47, accused of raping women, filming it, and distributing it online
An Adelaide electrician accused of raping two women and filming it – and posting it online – is now “acutely unwell”, a court has heard.
A southern suburbs businessman allegedly filmed himself raping a woman and distributed the videos online – while repeating “similar offending” against another woman, a court has heard.
Aldinga Beach electrician Heath Chance Mason was scheduled to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday to enter pleas to one count of possessing child exploitation material, more than a dozen counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a person without consent and more than two dozen counts of distributing images of a person obtained by indecent filming.
However, Mr Mason, 47 – who was excused from appearing in person due to dealing with a number of “serious health considerations” – failed to answer his phone when his matter was called on, causing prosecution to apply for an arrest warrant.
“Your Honour can see the charges – the charges are extremely serious,” they said.
“On the prosecution case, the accused – over a number of years – has raped (a woman), filmed it, and distributed it online. There is some similar offending in relation to (another woman).
“To ensure this matter moves ahead, I am asking for a warrant of apprehension.”
Mr Mason, who owns Aldinga and Surrounds Electrical, first appeared in court in January after he was arrested and charged by SA’s elite JACET officers in December last year.
Court documents obtained by The Advertiser allege his sexual offending occurred between December 31, 2011, and November 28, 2022.
The documents further allege he possessed child exploitation material “knowing of its pornographic nature”.
On Thursday, Ben Chehade, for Mr Mason, told the court his client was “quite unwell” and had recently been rendered bedridden.
“He’s scheduled for heart surgery,” Mr Chehade said. “It’s not the case that Mr Mason is on vacation … he is acutely unwell.”
Mr Chehade told Magistrate John Clover he “very much doubted” Mr Mason would be in a position to answer the charge, submitting he was yet to obtain instructions from his client.
Mr Clover adjourned the matter to next week and said Mr Mason would be required to attend in person.
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Originally published as Adelaide electrician Heath Chance Mason, 47, accused of raping women, filming it, and distributing it online
