Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
WA nurse charged, sex crimes against teen
An ex-Western Australian mental health nurse has been charged with “predatory” sex crimes against a teenage girl, who was allegedly in his care at the time.
January 18, 2022
A former Western Australian mental health nurse has been charged with a slew of “predatory” sex crimes against a 14-year-old girl in his care.
Police say the man, now 48, indecently and sexually assaulted the teenager between 2016 and 2018 while working for the WA Department of Health.
“His behaviour is believed to have been of a predatory nature, to prepare a child or young person for sexual activity at a later time,” a spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday.
At the time of the alleged incidents, the man was a qualified mental health nurse, who worked for a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in regional WA.
Detectives executed a search warrant on his home, where they allegedly found a number of electronic devices containing child exploitation material.
Some of the content included evidence of children being secretly filmed in public places, including on public transport, at beaches and outside schools.
The man has been charged with 12 counts of sexually penetrated a child over 13 and under 16 years, five counts of indecently dealing with a child, and one count each of indecently record a child and persistent sexual conduct with a child.
He is scheduled to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.