Couple Accused Of Prostituting Child
A GOLD Coast couple accused of prostituting their 13-year-old
daughter faced court yesterday on more than 120 child sex offences.
They were arrested after allegedly posting pictures of the girl
engaged in sex acts with her prostitute mother and men
on the Internet.
The woman, 39, and her husband, 48, appeared in Southport
Magistrate's Court each charged with 40 counts of indecent
treatment of a child under 16, 20 counts of publishing obscene
photographs and one count of procurement for carnal knowledge.
They were also charged with prostitution offences.
Police prosecutor Acting Sgt Reece Foort told the court the
couple was arrested after NSW police child sex investigators
were alerted to a website depicting an older woman "in sexually
explicit positions with a young girl".
Acting Sgt Foort said an undercover police officer arranged to
meet the accused woman and was offered unprotected sex.
Her husband was arrested after trying to remove his daughter
from school, the court was told.
Acting Sgt Foort said police found 60 photos of the woman, her
daughter and other men having sexual intercourse or in sexually
explicit positions.
Sexually explicit photos "adorned' the walls of the couple's home
where their 10-year-old son also lived, he said.
Sgt Foort said the accused man had admitted taking sexually explicit
photos of his wife and daughter shortly after her 13th birthday. But
he believed the website had been shut down and denied that his daughter
had been prostituted.
Acting Sgt Foort said the woman claimed the website photos were of her
18-year-old stepdaughter.
He said some of the sexually explicit photos taken at the home involved
"everyone in the family".
Diaries found at the home indicated the couple lived off the proceeds of
prostitution and used their daughter in their business, Acting Sgt Foort
said.
Opposing bail, he said the couple had shown no remorse and police believed
the alleged crimes they had uncovered were "the tip of the iceberg".
Acting Sgt Foort said there was evidence the couple had exploited their
daughter "in a most obscene manner" and should not be granted bail because
of the risk they would re-offend or try to influence the girl, who had been
placed with the Child Safety Department along with her brother.
Defence counsel Michael Dwyer said the woman admitted she was a private
escort but said she worked legally.
Mr Dwyer said the couple would lose their rented accommodation if they
were remanded in custody, and also had cars and credit cards to pay off.
He said they were "mature" people who would comply with any bail conditions
set down by the Magistrate's Court.
Magistrate Terry Duroux ruled that the couple was an unacceptable risk and
remanded them in custody until November 15.
Queensland Newspapers (9-10-2004)
Greg Stolz
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