Ex-Liberal MP Rory Amon Faces Trial for Alleged Sexual Assault of 13-Year-Old Boy on Dating App
- Rory Amon, former Member for Pittwater, denies 10 charges including indecent assault and sexual intercourse with a child under 16
- The alleged victim, now 22, met Amon on a gay dating app and claims they met twice in a Sydney apartment complex car park in 2017
- The trial has heard the complainant’s testimony, detailing the alleged assaults and his online interactions with Amon, who claims he believed the boy was at least 16 years old
The trial of former Liberal MP Rory Amon has heard disturbing allegations of sexual assault against a 13-year-old boy, who claims he was targeted by the politician on a gay dating app in 2017.
Amon, who resigned as the Member for Pittwater in August 2024, has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges, including indecent assault of a person under 16 and having sexual intercourse with a child aged between 10 to 14.
The alleged victim, now 22, took the stand on Friday to recount the alleged incidents, which he claims took place in the bathroom of a Sydney apartment complex car park on two occasions between June 1 and July 25, 2017.
According to the complainant, he met Amon on a dating app, where they exchanged explicit images and videos before meeting face-to-face. The court heard that the boy created a profile on the app, lying about his age to maintain anonymity, as the platform required users to be 18 or older.
The complainant told the court he was “insecure” and “wanted connection” at the time, and assumed Amon had reached out to him on the app. He claimed Amon wanted to send him photos, but didn’t feel comfortable doing so on the platform.
Crown prosecutor Meaghan Fleeton told the jury that the complainant had confided in a teacher about the alleged assaults, which led to a mandatory report to police. The complainant later identified Amon as a northern beaches councillor during the pandemic and reported the matter to police in full when he was 18 years old.
Fleeton argued that the Crown’s case rested on whether it could be proven beyond reasonable doubt that there was deliberate touching and the alleged offences took place when the complainant was underage. She emphasized that consent of a child is not a defence.
Defence lawyer Matthew Johnston SC, however, claimed that Amon had an “honest and reasonable belief” that the complainant was at least 16 years old, and that there was “no significant dispute” about the online connection between the two.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
This case raises serious concerns about the safety of children online and the role of dating apps in facilitating sexual exploitation. It also highlights the need for greater awareness and education about consent and healthy relationships.
Security analysts say that this case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online predators and the importance of robust age verification processes on social media platforms.
Law enforcement insiders warn that this case is not an isolated incident, and that there are likely many more victims of online sexual exploitation who have not come forward.
Industry observers believe that this case will have significant implications for the dating app industry, which has faced criticism for its lack of effective age verification and moderation.
As the trial continues, Australians will be watching closely to see how the justice system responds to these disturbing allegations and whether justice will be served for the alleged victim.