Four Katoomba residents have been charged in relation to alleged historical child sexual and physical abuse in the Blue Mountains.
Four women, two men and a teenage girl were charged with a total of 127 offences during a police sting on Monday, February 5.
Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Baillieu in July 2017 to investigate reports of historic sexual and physical abuse on three boys, who were under the age of eight, by people known to them.
Following extensive investigations, Strike Force investigators arrested seven people at homes at Katoomba, Canterbury and Wentworthville on Monday.
Two Katoomba men and two Katoomba women were arrested as part of the operation.
An 18-year-old Katoomba man was charged with 42 offences, including kidnapping, sexual intercourse with a child under 10, and common assault.
The man was refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday.
A 26-year-old Katoomba woman was charged with 13 offences, including aggravated sexual assault in company, and detaining someone for advantage.
She was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.
A 52-year-old Katoomba man was charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault in company (child under 10), holding male child abuse material, and using a child under 14 to make child abuse material.
He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.
A 58-year-old Katoomba woman was charged with 43 offences, including aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10, having sexual intercourse with a child under 10, and aggravated kidnapping.
She was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.
A 17-year-old girl, of Wentworthville, was charged with eight counts of aggravated sexual assault in company, aggravated kidnapping and producing child abuse material.
A 20-year Old Canterbury woman was charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping taking a person in company and committing a serious indictable offence, two counts of common assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The pair were refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Tuesday, February 6.
A 29-year Canterbury woman was charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault in company depriving liberty, and three counts of common assault.
She was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today.
Police will allege in court the group participated in ongoing sexual and physical abuse of three boys, who were known to them, between 2014 and 2016 in the Blue Mountains.
Investigations under Strike Force Baillieu are continuing.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate serious sexual assaults against adults and serious sexual and physical assaults against children including extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
People should not report crime information via the Police’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
- with Rachel Olding, SMH
