Sunshine Coast ex-masseur charged over historic child sex abuse allegations

A former Sunshine Coast kickboxing masseur has been charged over historic child sex abuse allegations. Here is what we know.

An 82-year-old Sunshine Coast man has been charged over historic child sex abuse allegations dating back to 1995 after he was accused of indecently dealing with a teenage boy.

Police said in a statement on September 29, 2022, the now 82-year-old was arrested at a Sunshine Coast address on August 10, 2022 and was later charged with four counts of indecent treatment of a child.

It was alleged the man, who was 55 years old and working as a massage therapist at a Kuluin kickboxing gym at the time of the allegations, indecently dealt with a 14-year-old boy over a number of months.

The man was working as a casual masseur at other Sunshine Coast gyms including Kawana and Yandina, as well as from his then-home on the Sunshine Coast at the time, police said.

This work continued from the mid-1990s until the 2000s, primarily in kickboxing gyms.

The man is due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on November 18, 2022.

Investigations are ongoing and police urge anyone with information to come forward.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast ex-masseur charged over historic child sex abuse allegations