BAIL FOR RAPE ACCUSED

Girl a ‘ family friend’ of alleged offender: police

A MAN accused of raping a child has been bailed.

The 37- year- old Vincent man appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court on seven counts of rape and six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12.

Detectives from the Townsville Child Pro- tection Investigation Unit arrested and charged a 37- year- old Vincent man with the alleged offences on Friday afternoon.

The man was held in custody over the weekend and fronted court on Monday where police strongly opposed bail.

AN alleged child rapist has been bailed after fronting Townsville Magistrates Court on seven counts of rape and six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12.

Detectives from the Townsville Child Protection Investigation Unit arrested and charged a 37- year- old Vincent man with the alleged offences on Friday afternoon.

His victim, a young girl, made disclosures about the alleged rapes to the mother of the accused who then contacted police.

Townsville Child Protection Investigation Unit officerin- charge Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said police would allege the offences occurred between May and November.

“It will be alleged the victim was a family friend who was residing with the accused’s mother,” Sen- Sgt Miles said.

“He was also residing there at the time of the incident.”

Sen- Sgt Miles said that when police were dealing with allegations involving young children “it’s imperative that the community is protected against such individuals”.

The man was held in cus- tody at the weekend and fronted Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday where police strongly opposed bail.

Despite this, the alleged offender was granted bail to reappear before the court on February 2, 2018.

Under conditions of bail, the man is not allowed to go to the house where the alleged offences took place nor have contact with the victim or her family, and must report to police three times a week.

Bravehearts, a foundation aiming to prevent child sexual abuse in society, believes the interests of all children should be protected by the courts.

“Conditions may be enforced in relation to a specific victim but we also need to be protecting all children in the community,” Bravehearts criminologist Carol Ronkin said.

The foundation’s stance is that bail should be refused for anyone charged with child sex offences except in exceptional circumstances.

“We understand people are innocent until proven guilty but these are serious offences and we strongly believe the presumption should be to refuse bail,” Ms Ronkin said.

“Any decision by the courts should always be made with the interests of children at heart and what’s best for protecting children.”