A FORMER foster carer accused of repeatedly indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl while she was in his care during 2017 has been released on strict conditional bail in Newcastle Local Court.
The 42-year-old man, who was represented by solicitor Roland Day, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with four counts of aggravated indecent assault and committing an act of indecency with a person under the age of 16. He did not enter any pleas and the matter was adjourned until April 29.
But after spending two weeks behind bars since his arrest on the Central Coast, the man applied for bail with Mr Day telling Magistrate David Price that if granted release the man would abide by a number of strict conditions, including surrendinger his passport, not being in the company of anyone under the age of 18, posting a $5000 cash surety, reporting to police and a curfew, among other conditions.
Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad detectives say they launched an investigation last month after receiving a report that a young girl had been indecently assaulted by a man while she was in his care.
After extensive investigations they arrested and charged the man and he was initially refused bail in Wyong Local Court before being granted bail on Wednesday.
