Former teacher charged with child grooming offences

Detectives from the Sunshine Coast Child Abuse Unit have charged a 40-year-old man with additional offences following the alleged indecent treatment of children.

On Friday 2 July, police charged the man with 14 counts of indecent treatment of child under 16, five counts of stealing, two counts of forgery and one count each of grooming and observations or recordings in breach of privacy.

The man is a former teacher at a Sunshine Coast private school and former coach within a major water sports association.

Police will allege the man created an alias Instagram account, “Taylor Brooke” – tay_brookesa and engaged in multiple conversations with children under this alias. This account has since been deactivated.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have had interactions with the man, or this alias account, or know of any potential victims to come forward with further information.

The charges also include the alleged forgery of documentation and theft of items from a school where he was previously employed.

The man was refused police bail and appeared briefly in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Saturday morning where he was remanded in custody to reappear on 6 August.