Bestiality Investigation Leads to Child Sexual Abuse Charges
In September 2024, the New South Wales State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit began an investigation into the production and distribution of bestiality material in Sydney. Police allege that an online group was uncovered during the...
‘Sexsomnia’ and the Legal Defence of Automatism in New South Wales
A Sydney man has been found not guilty of a string of sexual offences against children after raising evidence that he was asleep and suffering from ‘sexsomnia’ during the incidents, and that he was therefore acting involuntarily – a requirement...
The Offence of Sexual Intercourse with a Child Aged Between 10 and 14 Years in NSW
A sitting member of New South Wales parliament has resigned from the Liberal Party after being charged with multiple child sexual offences. Pittwater MP Roderick “Rory” Gilmore Amon was charged on Friday, 30 August 2023 with 10 sexual offences, comprising...
Historical Sexual Assaults: Women Cannot Be Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Boys
In a decision which shows just how far sexual offence laws have changed over the decades, the highest criminal court in the state, the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal (NSWCCA) recently found that a female teacher prosecuted over...
Can I Check if Someone is On the Sex Offender Register?
All Australian states and territories have a ‘sex offender register’ which holds details of individuals who have been convicted of sexual offences against a child. While there have long been calls for the register to be made public, this is...
How Much Will My Sentence Be Reduced If I Plead Guilty?
A 64-year old man facing 23 allegations of historical child sexual offences, including having sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16-years, has changed his plea from not guilty to guilty just hours after his trial started. The...
Can Good Character References Be Used During Sentencing Proceedings for Child Sex Offences?
Two young men are on a campaign to prohibit those who plead guilty or are found guilty of child sexual offences from using good character references during their sentencing hearings, which is the time when the magistrate or judge decides...
The Law, Penalties and Defences Relating to Child Prostitution in NSW
New South Wales has decriminalised prostitution (‘sex work’) involving consenting adults but, and perhaps needless to say, child sexual offences including conduct relating to child prostitution are treated very seriously by the law and the courts. Here is an outline...
Vatican Accuses Australian Bishop of Sexual Offences
An independent report commissioned by the Vatican has labelled a Catholic Bishop from Western Australia a ‘sexual predator’, accusing him of sexually assaulting four Indigenous youths and grooming dozens of others. Vatican commissioned investigation The Vatican confirmed it commissioned the...
Brian Houston Found Not Guilty of Concealing Child Sexual Abuse
Hillsong Church Founder Brian Houston has been cleared of accusations he concealed child sexual offences committed by his father, Frank Houston, in the 1970s. Brian Houston, who is a long time friend of former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, was...
