A former politician accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in a car park bathroom says he did not know the boy was 13 when they met.
Rory Amon spoke to the alleged victim on a gay dating app and then via Snapchat before meeting at the boy’s family home on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The former state MP pleaded not guilty to various criminal sexual offenses against a teenage boy in 2017 and faces a NSW Supreme Court jury trial on Friday.
In his mid-20s, Amon initially spoke to the boy on a gay hook-up website after the teenager lied about his age to sign up for a free trial, Crown prosecutor Meghan Fleeton told jurors.
Amon, who is in year 8 at high school, and the boy did not use their real names. They allegedly met on two occasions in June and July 2017 at the teenager’s apartment where he lived with his parents.
The sexual activity took place in a communal bathroom attached to the car park, Fleeton said.
During the first meeting, Amon is accused of placing her hand on the boy’s genitals and then having sex with him.
Sign up for: AU Breaking News Email
On the second occasion, he brought along a towel that was placed on the floor.
The couple were sexually assaulted while standing and then lying on a towel.
Amon tried to have sex with the young man before asking him to perform another sexual act.
In both cases the former councilor left earlier.
The boy waited a few minutes alone before going upstairs to his house, Fleeton told the jury.
The complainant, who cannot legally be named, blocked Amon on Snapchat.
He told his teacher, psychiatrist, parents and friends about the allegation in 2017. But the teenager didn’t make a formal complaint to the police until years after Amon became a local councilor and the boy realized his true nature.
Aman was arrested and charged in August 2024.
Now 36, the former politician pleaded not guilty to 10 charges, including five counts of having sex with a child and two counts of attempted sex with a child.
He also denied the indecent assault charges.
Amon admitted meeting the teenager on a gay dating app, but this may be different from what the Crown alleged, his defense barrister, Matthew Johnston SC, told jurors.
The former MP admitted talking to the teenager on Snapchat before going to his house.
But Amon denied he knew the boy was 13, as anyone signing up to the dating website must be over 18.
“Not done at any time [the alleged victim] Give Amon his real age,” Johnston told the jury.
Instead, the jury found that the 36-year-old had an honest and reasonable belief that the complainant was at least 16 years old.
“That’s a naive state of mind,” Johnston said.
The alleged victim is expected to tell the court that he is at least 15 years old.
Amon also disputed meeting the teenager twice, saying he only went to the apartment block on one occasion, Johnston said.
The investigation is ongoing.
