A former sports coach will face court today charged over the alleged historical assaults of young players in the 1990s and 2000s on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Detectives from Northern Beaches Police Area Command commenced an investigation, after five men reported they had been physically abused by a man known to them while they attended a Pittwater sports club as children.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 70-year-old man at a home in Sanctuary Point just after 8.30am yesterday (Wednesday 28 August 2019).
Shortly after, a search warrant was executed at the property, where investigators located several items, including electronic storage devices, video tapes and documentation. These items were seized to undergo forensic examination.
The man was taken to Nowra Police Station, where he was charged with 16 counts of common assault, produce child abuse material, produce child pornography, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Police will allege in court that the man, who was the boys’ baseball coach, assaulted the youths on numerous occasions while they were at sporting facilities across the Sydney’s Northern Beaches and outside of practice between 1994 and 2017.
The boys were aged between nine and 20 at the time of the alleged assaults. In one of these alleged incidents, a 12-year-old boy suffered fractures to his foot.
It will also be alleged that, during private lessons with these young players, the man would film the assaults.
He was refused bail to appear at Nowra Local Court today (Thursday 29 August 2019).
As investigations continue, anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
