ACT Court Grants Bail to 'Successful' Man Accused of Grooming 13-Year-Old

A man described as a "successful person" has been granted bail by the ACT Magistrates Court, despite facing serious allegations of grooming a 13-year-old girl. The 53-year-old from Red Hill appeared remotely from within the court building on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Non-Publication Order and Allegations

The court has imposed a non-publication order that prevents the disclosure of the man's name, profession, business, and ethnicity. Police received information earlier this month about an allegedly inappropriate relationship between the man and the child. It is claimed that the grooming began in 2023, leading to his arrest on Friday.

He has been charged with:

Using a carriage service to groom a child under 16
Using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 for sexual activity

The man has not yet entered pleas to these charges.

Prosecution Opposition to Bail

Prosecutor Corinne Kennedy strongly opposed bail, raising several concerns:

A likelihood of interfering with evidence
Risk of failing to appear in court
Potential endangerment to the safety and welfare of others

Ms Kennedy argued that the man had been "in a position of power over the complainant child" and had ingratiated himself into the family to facilitate the alleged crimes. She cautioned the court to treat a family member's support letter with "a large amount of scepticism," noting that such offences are often "insidious" and not publicly promoted.

Defence Arguments for Bail

Defence barrister Kieran Ginges countered that his client's success did not equate to being a flight risk. He emphasised that the man was "unquestionably a person of prior good character" and that police had already seized his iPad, Kindle, and computer during searches of his home and business, eliminating concerns about evidence interference.

Mr Ginges described the proposed bail conditions as "not quite home detention but not far from it," suggesting they were sufficiently restrictive.

Bail Conditions Granted

Magistrate Glenn Theakston ultimately granted bail with specific conditions, including a prohibition on being in the company of any child under 16 unless accompanied by another adult. The 53-year-old is scheduled to return to court next month for further proceedings.

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