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A former New South Wales MP’s alleged victim delivered emotional testimony in court, fighting back tears as he recounted his experience.
Rory Amon, 36, has denied charges related to multiple sexual offenses involving a teenage boy in 2017. His trial commenced on Friday in the NSW Supreme Court.
At the time, Amon, who was in his mid-20s, reportedly engaged in conversation with the 13-year-old on a gay dating platform. The teenager had misrepresented his age to access a free trial, explained Crown Prosecutor Meaghan Fleeton to the jury.
The pair, neither using their actual names, continued their communication via Snapchat.
They allegedly met twice, in June and July of 2017, at the boy’s residence, where he lived with his parents, according to the prosecution.
The sexual activity took place in a communal bathroom connected to the car park, Fleeton said.
During his evidence, the alleged victim – who cannot be legally named – started sobbing and placed his head in both hands when shown police photographs of the bathroom.
Now 22, the man told the court he was excited and giddy at meeting Amon, thinking this was the precursor to something romantic.
At the first meeting, the older man wore grey tracksuit pants, a white Adidas hoodie and ugg boots.
After leading the teen into the bathroom, he flushed the toilet and made a comment about the smell before sitting on the floor, the jury was told.
The ex-MP is then accused of placing the boy’s hand on his genitals and then directing the boy to have sexual intercourse with him.
The complainant’s voice cracked when Fleeton asked him to describe the allegations in explicit detail.
“Do I have to?” he asked.
“Yes,” the prosecutor replied.
On the second occasion, further alleged sexual assaults took place while the pair were standing and then laying on a towel brought by Amon.
The older man allegedly attempted to have sexual intercourse with the teen before telling him to perform another sexual act.
The complainant told the court he felt grossed out and repulsed by what was happening.
“I wanted it to stop,” he told the jury.
On both occasions, the former MP left first.
The boy waited alone before going upstairs to his home, Fleeton told the jury.
The complainant blocked Amon on Snapchat after the former MP and lawyer tried to arrange a third meeting.
He told his teacher, psychiatrist, parents and friends in 2017 about what allegedly happened.
In disclosing what allegedly happened to a friend, he said he told Amon he was 15-years-old.
The teen did not make a formal complaint to police until years later after Amon became a local councillor and the boy realised his real identity.
In 2022, Amon sent messages to the alleged victim online, including a photograph of himself wearing a fireman’s outfit.
He was arrested and charged in August 2024.
He has pleaded not guilty to 10 charges including five counts of having sexual intercourse with a child and two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a child.
He also denies indecent assault charges.
Amon admits meeting the teenager on a gay dating app, defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC told jurors.
The former MP also admitted talking with the teen on Snapchat before going to his home.
But Amon denied he knew the boy was 13 years old as anyone who signed up for the dating website had to be aged over 18.
“At no point in time did (the alleged victim) provide Mr Amon with his real age,” Johnston told the jury.
Instead, the ex-councillor had an honest and reasonable belief that the complainant was at least 16 years old, the jury heard.
“That is an innocent state of mind,” Johnston said.
Amon also disputed the teen’s account, saying he only went to the apartment block once, Johnston said.
The trial continues on Monday.
1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
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