NORTHERN RIVERS MAN CHARGED WITH HISTORICAL CHILD SEX OFFENCES

A man will appear in court today charged over the alleged historical sexual abuse and indecent assault of seven children in the Northern Rivers.

Last year, detectives from Richmond Police District established Strike Force Erldunda to investigate reports a man had been sexually and indecently assaulted as a child, by a man who was known to him.

During the investigation, police identified a further six men who were allegedly sexually and indecently assaulted by the same man.

Following extensive inquiries, an 82-year-old man was arrested at a home in Ballina about 1.30pm yesterday.

He was taken to Ballina Police Station and charged with 40 offences including 31 counts of indecent assault on male, four counts of indecent assault where victim under the age of 10 years and five counts of sexual intercourse with person under the age of 10 years.

Police will allege that the man sexually and indecently assaulted the boys – then aged between five and 12 – on several occasions between 1960 and 1991 in the Lismore area, while performing duties as a scout volunteer and a boys’ brigade volunteer.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear at Lismore Local Court today.

Investigations continue.