Alleged victim of former NSW MP tells court he didn’t understand their meet-up was for a sexual encounter | New South Wales
A former politician’s allegation that he sexually abused a young teenager caused mental difficulties for the boy as he struggled to process the incident, a jury has heard.
Former state MP Rory Amon, 36, has denied a series of criminal acts against a 13-year-old boy at a Sydney apartment complex in 2017.
The pair met on a gay dating site before talking on Snapchat and arranging for the two to meet in a car park restroom where the rape and other crimes allegedly took place.
The alleged victim, now 22, returned to testify before a NSW supreme court jury on Monday.
Questioned by Amon’s barrister, Matthew Johnston SC, Amon said he did not fully understand that the first date was for a sexual encounter.
Sign up: AÜ Breaking News email
“I was 13; I had no script for this type of experience,” he told the jury.
The brief sexual encounter with Amon, who had previously expressed excitement at the prospect of a romantic relationship to a friend, was not what she expected.
“I wasn’t developmentally ready to have sex, let alone have sex with someone twice my age,” the alleged victim said.
The jury heard that he soon told a friend what happened.
“I feel like I was exposed to all this too early and it’s a little hard to process,” she messaged him on Instagram. “My anxiety about this is so bad it makes my stomach hurt.”
Johnston claimed his client had correctly stated his age on the dating site as 27, not 17 as the complainant testified.
“I’m sure that’s not true,” the alleged victim replied.
The young man admitted that he lied about his age to register on the 18-and-over website. He then lied to Amon once again about his age, stating that he made himself look 15 years old.
Amon denies allegations that he knew the complainant was under 16.
“I suggest to you that you informed the defendant that you were 17 years old,” Johnston said.
“I’m sure that’s not possible,” the alleged victim replied.
Jurors were told on Friday that Amon and the Year 8 teenager met twice in the shared bathroom of the block of flats, where a number of sexual acts allegedly took place.
The couple allegedly kissed, touched and had sexual intercourse.
In the second incident, Amon allegedly brought a towel with him so they could lie on the bathroom floor.
Amon admits to meeting the teenager once but says he never returned for a second visit; The alleged victim objected to this claim on Monday.
“My memory does not fail me… there were two incidents,” the now 22-year-old told jurors. “The second incident did not come out of nowhere.”
The complainant told her teacher, psychiatrist, parents and friends about the alleged assaults in 2017.
Years later, after Amon became a local councilman and realized the boy politician’s true identity, he did not file a formal complaint with the police.
The former MP has denied 10 charges, including five counts of sexual intercourse with a child and two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a child.
He also denies accusations of indecent assault.
The trial continues.
