Detectives have charged a man with 70 offences following an investigation into the alleged sexual and physical abuse of a woman and six children on the state's Mid North Coast.
In June this year, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a 45-year-old woman and six children had been sexually or physically abused by a man known to them between 2015 and 2018.
Following extensive inquiries, investigators arrested a 61-year-old man at a home near Taree about 11.40am on Wednesday 2 September 2020.
The man was taken to Taree Police Station and charged with 70 offences including;
- groom child under 14 years for unlawful sexual activity,
- stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm,
- assault occasioning actual bodily harm,
- aggravated sex assault victim under authority of offender,
- aggravated indecency victim under 16 and under authority offender,
- refuse to provide necessities of life endanger life,
- sexual intercourse without consent,
- groom child under 14 years for unlawful sexual activity,
- drive furiously in motor vehicle do/cause bodily harm,
- torture, beat and seriously injure animal,
- common assault,
- affray.
He appeared at Taree Local Court on Thursday 3 September 2020, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court today (Tuesday 20 October 2020).
Following further investigations, Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad detectives executed a search warrant at a property near Taree on Tuesday 8 September 2020.
Detectives were assisted throughout the operation by Northern Region Operations Support Group (OSG), officers from Manning Great Lakes and Mid North Coast Police Districts and police divers from the Marine Area Command.
Electronic storage devices were seized from the home, while three firearms were recovered during a search of a dam. All items seized will undergo further examination.
Investigations are continuing.
