Man on child sexual abuse charges assaulted during bail breach

A Qld man facing more than 20 child sexual abuse related charges has turned up to court sporting visible injuries and claiming police have refused to help him.

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Sporting a black eye and multiple stitches, a man in his 70s has fronted court worse for wear after a grave mistake made within days of his bail release.

The man, who is charged with 18 indecent treatment of children offences and three rapes, breached his bail within days, Rockhampton Magistrates Court heard.

The man, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the children who were allegedly abused between Central Qld and Townsville, told the court this week that he needed to go to a rural address to retrieve his belongings, including his car, so he could leave the area.

He claimed he had gone to Rockhampton police first and asked for their help and they pointed him to Yeppoon police station, where he was again told police would not assist him.

Magistrate Lance Rundle said the court previously heard during the man’s original bail application that officers had concerns about the man’s safety should he return to the rural address.

Police prosecutor Mirren Smith said the original bail conditions did not restrict the man from attending the address, but there was a “no contact with prosecution witnesses” condition which the man breached.

She said the breach happened when he came in contact with a female at that location who spoke with him and then again, after trying to leave the property, a male witness approached him on the roadway.

Defence lawyer Oscar Millroy said his client’s dwelling was 300 metres from the witnesses’ residence.

He said his client instructed he had sought assistance from police at both stations and when they refused he slept in the bushes out the front of the Yeppoon station.

“He sought to get his car,” Mr Millroy said.

He also said the female witness refused to let the defendant leave the property and as he tried to leave, he was physically assaulted.

The man managed to make it to the road and as he did, another witness drove towards him.

Mr Millroy said the defendant now had a black eye, stitches to the side of his head, stitches behind his ear and several scratches on his arm.

The man pleaded guilty to the breach of bail charge, but the charge was dismissed.

He is also charged with seven counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 lineal descendant/guardian/carer, four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 lineal descendant/guardian/carer, three counts of rape, three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 lineal descendant/guardian/carer (expose), two of indecent treatment of a child under 12 lineal descendant/guardian/carer (procure to commit), indecent treatment of a child under 16 lineal descendant/guardian/carer (expose) and one of indecent treatment of a child under 12 lineal descendant/guardian/carer (take photographs).

These charges arise from allegations between 2016 and 2024, in two locations in the Townsville region and a Central Queensland location.

Mr Rundle ordered changes to the man’s bail conditions, including adding that he could attend the rural property with police to collect his belongings within 48 hours.

His other charges, to which he has not entered pleas, will next be mentioned on August 27.

Originally published as Man on child sexual abuse charges assaulted during bail breach