Accused of sex offences with girl

A MAN accused of maintaining a sexual relationship with an underage teenager has been refused bail after he was charged with multiple child sex offences.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court from the watch-house charged with nine counts of breaching bail conditions, carnal knowledge of a child under 16 and two counts of indecent treatment of a child.

The court was told that police allege the 23-year-old groomed the 14-year-old over a period of months and engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl that saw him engage in “very risky behaviour” including choking the girl to the point of unconsciousness during intercourse.

In applying for bail, solicitor Ryan McCullough said a great deal of the contact that allegedly constituted the breaches of bail were instigated by the victim, and that his client had ended the relationship in July, a month after the alleged offending took place.

Mr McCullough told the court his client was living in a caravan park east of Toowoomba and had work as an onion picker.

The court was told the man had voluntarily undergone some rehabilitation through Alcohol and Other Drugs Service, but acknowledged his client was facing some serious offences.

Magistrate Louise Shephard said the man was in a show cause position to prove to the court why his ongoing detention was unjustified.

But she said that the risk he posed to further harm of the alleged victim couldn’t be reduced by bail conditions and he was remanded in custody.

The matter was adjourned to Warwick Magistrates Court on November 28.