Drew William Kerswell, 35, accused of raping a 14-year-old girl after supplying her with meth
A Brisbane man was captured on CCTV holding hands with a 14-year-old girl at the Star casino before he allegedly supplied her with meth and raped her, a court has heard.
A Brisbane man was captured on CCTV holding hands with a 14-year-old girl at the Star casino before he allegedly supplied her with meth and raped her, a court has heard.
Drew William Kerswell, 35, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court for mention on Friday after he was granted bail earlier this month.
His bail application on November 6 heard allegations he had raped a 14-year-old girl after she contacted him seeking drugs.
Prosecutor Harry Coburn said police had obtained CCTV footage of Kerswell with the teenager holding hands at the lobby of the Star casino.
He said Kerswell had admitted he had been with the girl for a number of days, but denied any sexual activity with her or supplying her with meth.
Mr Coburn claimed Kerswell had “drugged” the girl, but duty lawyer Steven Erickson clarified that there was no allegation the girl was forced to take drugs.
He said it was instead alleged that the girl had sought out Kerswell for drugs, and that her friends had then “hatched a plan to rob him”.
Magistrate Louise Shepherd said she had no issue with Mr Coburn’s wording, however, in circumstances where Kerswell allegedly used the supply of meth as “a means of grooming her and having access to her”.
“If a 14-year-old is ingesting methamphetamine – even if consensually – it is stupefying her decision-making and it’s completely abhorrent predatory behaviour,” Ms Shepherd said.
The court heard one of the girl’s friends had later called triple-0, claiming the girl had been “kidnapped”.
Mr Erickson said there was no evidence Kerswell knew the age of the complainant and emphasised that he had not sought the girl out.
“So opportunistic,” Ms Shepherd commented.
“If a 14-year-old contacts him wanting some methamphetamine, he’ll oblige and have sex with her.”
Mr Coburn opposed bail, arguing the CCTV and statements from the girl and her friend formed a strong Crown case against Kerswell.
“It cannot be understated that the defendant is looking at a term of actual custody for these (alleged) offences,” Mr Coburn said.
He requested a no-contact with children condition if bail were to be granted.
The court heard Kerswell had no similar history, but had recently faced court for low-level property offending.
Ms Shepherd agreed Kerswell would face actual imprisonment if convicted, but found there were conditions that could ameliorate his risks to an acceptable level -noting he had a prima facie right to bail.
She granted Kerswell bail under conditions that he report to police three times a week, have only one phone, not use any encrypted apps, abstain from drug use, and have no contact with children.
Kerswell represented himself at the matter’s next mention on Friday, November 21, and is yet to enter a plea.
He told the court he had applied for legal aid, but the funding had not yet been approved.
Magistrate Belinda Merrin ordered a brief of evidence be disclosed by January 8 and adjourned the case to January 16. Kerswell’s bail was enlarged.
He is charged with four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, two counts of rape, and one count each of aggravated supply of dangerous drugs to a minor under 16, and common assault in a public place while adversely affected.
Originally published as Drew William Kerswell, 35, accused of raping a 14-year-old girl after supplying her with meth
