A man accused of historical sexual and physical abuse of a teenager in the Hunter allegedly had a bag packed when police went to his home after they could not get him to voluntarily go to the police station, a court has heard.
The 61-year-old faced Newcastle Local Court via video-link from Waratah Police Station on Tuesday, where a raft of charges had been levelled at him.
The court heard that the man allegedly failed to co-operate with police investigating the alleged abuse by going to the police station voluntarily when asked.
When officers then arrived at his home, he allegedly had an overnight bag packed.
The man was charged on Monday afternoon with 16 counts related to alleged sexual and physical violence offences against a teenage girl who was known to him.
Police allege the offences were committed between April 2016 and December 2018, from when the girl was 13 until she was 16.
The charges include two counts of having sexual intercourse with a person aged between 14 and 16 and one count each of causing a child aged between 14 and 18 to commit an act of child prostitution and kidnapping with intent to commit actual bodily harm.
Detectives have been investigating the matter and have previously charged two men - aged 38 and 43 - as well as a 60-year-old woman. They remain before the courts.
The 61-year-old man applied for bail in Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday. Solicitor Ashleigh Myers said he intended to defend himself against the charges.
But Magistrate Alex Mijovich refused bail, saying the charges related to "serious matters, matters of violence, sexual matters" and that there was a "strong prosecution case".
The man will face court again on November 25.
