Further charges for alleged sex offender

Friday 12 April 2019

A man who has been accused of using the gay dating app Grindr to incite an act of indecency with a child has now been charged with possessing indecent images of children as well.

The man who has not yet entered pleas for the charges has been held in custody since 8 March. He appeared before the Magistrate's Court to ask to be released on bail yesterday, but that was denied.

The 57-year-old was arrested as a result of a conversation he had on Grindr, the gay dating app, with what appeared to be a 13-year-old boy. 

Defending the man, Advocate Sam Steel told the court:

"My client would like to make the point loud and clear that the site is for over 18s, there is reference to the number 13, he has misconstrued the number 13 for 18." 

The court also heard how the man has been accused of possessing indecent images of children sometime between May 2015 and January 2019.

"He was in Paris, he had no access to data. He is a devout Catholic, he is looking forward to giving an oath, he does wish to come to court to prove his innocence," Advocate Steel said. 

He told the court the man had requested bail in order to assist his wife in moving home, but that was refused and the court adjourned. The hearing will continue at a later date.