EXCLUSIVE: How a young cop who met girl, 15, at school while investigating a sexual assault allegedly used the opportunity to groom a student before plying her with alcohol and vapes: ‘Deviant sexual desire’
- Matthew Townsend, 28, accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl twice
- Court heard he met the teen while investigating a sexual assault case against her
- Allegedly sent her messages ‘arrange a hook-up’ and offered alcohol and vapes
- His parents offered $5000 surety to secure his bail, but application was denied
- Do you know more? Email [email protected]
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){ var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0]; s.src = src; prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev); }(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!– DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
Pictured: Matthew Townsend, now 28
A young cop accused of plying a teenage girl with alcohol and vapes in exchange for sex met the alleged victim at a high school while investigating a sexual assault against her, a court has heard.
Matthew Townsend, from Gregory Hills in Sydney‘s south-west, was arrested at about 8pm on Saturday and charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old.
The 28-year-old was dressed in prison blues when he faced Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday, via video link from Parklea prison, while his lawyer applied for bail on his behalf.
Townsend kept his eyes down as the police prosecutor said the case against him was ‘strong’ and that detectives had obtained ‘electronic evidence’.
‘There were messages sent to the victim to arrange a hook-up and offering alcohol and vapes in exchange for sex,’ she said.
Matthew Townsend was dressed in prison greens when he faced Campbelltown Local Court (pictured) on Tuesday
Legal Aid lawyer Kristiana Domadyous lodged a bail application on Townsend’s behalf after his parents offered up $5000 surety.
She argued it was Townsend’s first offence and the case would ‘take a while to finalise’.
‘He has complied with the investigation and with police,’ she told the court. ‘He was also cooperative in surrendering an item of clothing.’
Ms Domadyous said Townsend lived with two other police officers in Gregory Hills, but would be willing to stay at his parents’ home in Wollongong if granted bail.
She said he was willing to agree to a curfew, would not enter the victim’s suburb, or contact her or her friends, or the school they attend.
READ RELATED: Potential cancer breakthrough as scientists finally discover how tumours 'hijack' healthy cells
However, the prosecutor said the charges were ‘serious’ and Townsend was ‘very likely to be convicted’.
She argued bail should be refused amid concerns he may fail to appear at court or contact the victim.
‘He met her at school while investigating a sexual assault against her then groomed her with vapes and alcohol,’ the prosecutor said.
‘The complainant is very young and impressionable.
‘There is a concern he could contact her and police would not be able to detect it as he has previously communicated with the victim via encrypted apps, including Snapchat, where messages are time limited.’
Townsend was arrested at about 8pm on Saturday and charged with two counts of sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old and misconduct. He worked for NSW Police (stock image)
She explained there was also a concern about further offences being committed against children, as he had a trusted position in the community and ‘abused’ that trust.
Magistrate David Degnan agreed with the prosecution and denied bail.
‘This is deviant sexual desire and an overwhelming case, quite frankly,’ he told the court.
‘I am not convinced of the safety of the community should you be released and there is strong corroborative evidence.
‘I am not prepared to grant you bail.’
Townsend has been stood down without pay while his employment status is reviewed.
He has been remanded in custody to appear in Campbelltown Local Court via video link on November 30.
Advertisement
Source:
