Sunshine Coast man charged with indecent treatment of a child under 12
Following six separate complaints from his ex-partner and a family court order stating the allegations ‘have no weight,’ a man was charged with the indecent treatment of a child.
Police & Courts
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A man in his 20s has been charged with the indecent treatment of a child under 12 a year after the complaint was said to hold “no weight” according to an official document.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested and charged in December 2024 and granted bail at Caboolture Magistrates Court, however strict conditions were imposed banning him from having any contact with children under 16 unless approved by child safety authorities.
On Thursday, the Caloundra Magistrates Court was told the allegation against the man was historic, coming from his ex-partner and her child when he was living with them about five years ago.
His solicitor, Rowena Ferrall, said the allegation stemmed from a protracted and “very nasty” family law process.
She said the matter had been addressed through the family court and was ultimately settled before it could proceed to trial.
“This is the sixth time that the complaint has been made to both QPS and the department of child safety,” Ms Ferrall said.
Ms Ferrall requested the court remove the restriction of having any contact with children under 16, citing the significant personal and financial hardship it has caused her client.
She explained the man had not been allowed contact with his own son and was unlikely to do so for many months.
She added the condition also prevented him from living at his family home, where he helps care for his partner’s children.
“This is causing my client significant financial hardship,” Ms Ferrall told the court.
She said the condition was also causing a “significant strain” on his relationship with his family.
“This has caused an amazing effect on my client and his family for allegations that are coming five years after the event and have been thoroughly investigated previously by the department of child safety and the Queensland Police Service,” Ms Ferrall said.
She highlighted that no similar allegations had been made against the man in the past.
She also pointed out that a notation on the order from the family law case stated that the allegations “have no weight”.
Police prosecutor Jeanette Grigoris requested an adjournment to review the mentioned material.
Magistrate Catherine Benson acknowledged the complexity of the matter, describing it as “serious.”
The matter was adjourned to February 20.
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Originally published as Sunshine Coast man charged with indecent treatment of a child under 12
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