A 54-year-old Sydney gymnastics coach has been charged with sexual abuse of young girls in his care.
NSW Police will allege in court that the man sexually touched five girls – aged between nine and 17 – on numerous occasions between January 2020 and June 2021, while they were his students.
In July, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a girl had been sexually abused by her coach during gymnastics training.
“Initial inquiries revealed the man had been refused a Working With Children Check in 2016, with his current status being barred,” NSW Police said in a statement today.
During the course of the investigation, a further four girls reported being sexually abused by the coach during their training sessions.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 54-year-old man at a home at Leonay about 11am yesterday.
The man was taken to Penrith Police Station, where he was charged with engage in child-related work without clearance/application, eight counts of intentionally sexually touch child aged 10-16 years, intentionally sexually touch child under 10 years, sexually touch person 16-17 years under special care, and sexually touch person 17-18 years under special care.
He has refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today.
