Surf coach and World Surf League competitor accused of child sex abuse

A 26-year-old Peregian Springs surf instructor has been charged with child sex abuse offences.

Surf instructor and World Surf League competitor Connor Lyons was named in court as the 26-year-old Peregian Springs man charged with child sex abuse offences on Monday 16 December.

Following his first Maroochydore Magistrates Court appearance, two more alleged victims came forward and a search warrant at a Gympie property on Wednesday 18 December led to further charges.

Mr Lyons is now facing 29 charges in total, connected to four alleged victims.

He has been charged with indecent treatment of children, making child exploitation material, using a carriage service to access child abuse material, wilful exposure, grooming children under 16, possessing child exploitation material and damaging evidence with intent.

ABC Sunshine Coast reported police prosecutor Tegan Smith told the court Mr Lyons admitted to police that he had accessed child pornography online for more than a decade, and that he first indecently dealt with children in 2018.

Ms Smith told the court that after the latest arrest, the evidence against Mr Lyons was stronger and the alleged offending was “substantially worse“.

Mr Lyons was initially granted bail with no pleas entered on Monday 16 December but was denied bail after reappearing in court on Thursday 19 December.

The matter was adjourned to March next year.

Detectives are continuing to investigate and are appealing to anyone who may have experienced similar to come forward.