Ex-Tyrrell suspect charged by police

A former Tasmanian priest who was a person of interest in the William Tyrrell case has been charged with aggravated sexual touching of a ­’vulnerable member of the ­community’.

Derek Nichols Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

A former Tasmanian priest who was a person of interest in the William Tyrrell case has been granted bail despite the objection of prosecutors after being charged by police with aggravated sexual touching of a ­“vulnerable member of the ­community”.

Derek Nichols, who previously lived a close walk from William’s foster grandmother’s home in Kendall, NSW, was interviewed by police and had his house searched in 2015 in relation to the boy’s disappearance.

Mr Nichols, who was one of the first suspects interviewed by detectives investigating William’s disappearance, was arrested by police at the weekend.

The court heard the 88-year-old allegedly groomed and then sexually assaulted a 25-year-old cognitively impaired man who has autism.

Mr Nichols, who denies the charge, appeared before magistrate Georgina Darcy on Monday in handcuffs. He was denied police bail on Friday afternoon following his arrest and court bail again by a registrar on Saturday.

As he was led into the courtroom wearing the collared red shirt he was arrested in, he winked twice at a woman who was in court to support him.

The court heard the alleged victim was at Nichols’ home on the NSW north coast, with the prosecution alleging he then “groomed” the man.

“There are suggestions that Mr Nichols groomed the complainant by touching him on the outside of his clothing, stroking his face and asking him to look into his eyes,” Ms Darcy said.

The court heard the alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was asked to lie in the bed of the accused, with the complainant allegedly waking to Mr Nichols holding his penis, the court was told.

Ms Darcy held “some concern” with granting Mr Nichols bail because of his criminal history, and also the location of his proposed bail address as it was in an “insular community”.

“It is of some concern he has convictions for possessing or making or producing child pornography,” Ms Darcy said.

She said the offences, which occurred in Victoria, saw him entered on to the child protection register for 15 years, but he also had “a number of convictions” for failing to comply with his reporting obligations in NSW.

“His most recent offence dates back over five years now.

“It is of some concern the nat­ure of the facts is it appears that Mr Nichols despite his age has preyed upon a vulnerable member of the community,” she said.

Despite the prosecution opposing the release application, Mr Nichols was granted bail and ordered to live with a friend and report to police weekly. He is prohibited from being in public unless accompanied.

Mr Nichols’ age was considered by the magistrate in her decision to grant him bail.

“The strength of the case effectively relies on the complainant’s word at this stage, although there has been a search warrant executed and some forensic testing done,” Ms Darcy said.

Mr Nichols’ lawyer said his client was “unaware of the complainant’s autistic situation” and he had previously been in contact with the alleged victim’s father.

“Mr Nichols denies any of the sexual acts that occurred,” his lawyer said.

The matter will return to court on August 24.