Detectives have charged a man following an investigation into alleged child sexual assaults that reportedly occurred more than 30 years ago on the state’s Mid North Coast.
In May 2026, officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District established Strike Force Franbach to investigate multiple reports of alleged historical sexual assaults alleged to have occurred between 1980 and 1990 in Bellangry, about 50km west of Port Macquarie.
Following extensive inquiries, about 9.30am on Thursday 24 September 2026, investigators from Mid North Coast Police District, with assistance from Newcastle City Police District, executed a search warrant at a home on Mitchell Street, Stockton.
During the search, police seized a number of items which have been taken for forensic examination.
A 78-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Waratah Police Station.
He has been charged with 21 offences,
- Aggravated sex assault -victim under authority of offender (DV) (six counts)
- Sexual assault indecent act with person under 16 years (four counts)
- Aggravated indecency-victim under 16 & under authority offender (four counts)
- Incite person under 16 years commit act of indeceny (three counts)
- Sexual assault person under 16 years of age (two counts)
- Commit act of indecency with/towards person under 16 (DV) (two counts)
He was refused bail and appeared at Bail Division Court 2 on Friday 25 September 2026, where he was formally refused bail to appear before Port Macquarie Local Court on Thursday 19 November 2026.
