Surf instructor Connor Lyons set to plead guilty to child sexual abuse charges

A disgraced surf teacher accused of grooming and molesting children has made a huge call in his case.

Connor John Christopher Lyons (left) leaving the Maroochydore Police Station after his first grant of bail last year. Picture: Patrick Woods

A surf instructor accused of grooming and indecently touching children has indicated he will plead guilty to all of his charges.

The stunning admission from Connor John Christopher Lyons was heard in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday where he faced 29 charges, all accumulated following his arrest on December 15 last year.

Police allege the Peregian Springs man committed indecent acts against children known to him through a professional capacity in the surfing industry.

Days after being granted bail, Lyons was arrested again and hit with more than a dozen additional charges, where police raised further allegations of grooming children along with possessing and accessing child exploitation material.

It was also alleged he tried to destroy evidence prior to detectives raiding a Gympie home where he was residing.

Lyons faces dozen of offences. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He was denied bail after his second arrest, where he faces dozens of offences including 16 counts of indecent treatment of children, five of wilful exposure, two of grooming, making child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child abuse material.

In a previous mention last month, the Peregian Springs man indicated he wanted to represent himself, with his former lawyer Bradford Hill officially withdrawing in court on Monday.

The court heard Lyons had received the brief of evidence at Woodford Correctional Centre.

The 26-year-old, who appeared on video from jail, said “all the charges seemed correct” after he read through the brief of evidence.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan then asked Lyons what he wanted to do with his matters.

“Um, plead guilty,” the surf instructor replied.

Lyons was a surf coach who posted about his business regularly on social media. Picture: Instagram

Mr Callaghan explained what the process could be at a committal hearing which might entail the surfer cross examining witnesses and testing the police evidence.

Lyons however said he did not want to do that.

His matter was listed down for a committal hand up on Thursday, with the 26-year-old making no application for bail.

He was remanded in custody.

Lyons, a renowned surfer and coach on the Sunshine Coast and beyond, boasted more than 9,000 followers on Instagram where he regularly spruiked his surf school for all ages.

His account has since been deactivated.

Originally published as Surf instructor Connor Lyons set to plead guilty to child sexual abuse charges