A Kyogle man facing 56 historic child sex charges is free on bail and has been allowed to travel overseas while police compile evidence against him.
Matthew Robert Frith appeared in Lismore Local Court on Tuesday and was represented by Mr Bull acting as an agent for Sydney Criminal Lawyers.
The 33 year-old was arrested on April 8 and taken to Casino police station where he was questioned and charged with 56 offences involving a girl aged 14 and 15.
Police allege the offences occurred at Kyogle between April 2010 and July 2011.
It is alleged on April 8, Mr Frith, who was then aged 26, had his first encounter with the girl, who can’t be named for legal reasons, when she was 14.
Mr Frith was charged with four counts of indecent assault of a person under 16, three counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged between 14 and 16 and three counts of aggravated (as the girl was allegedly drunk) sexual intercourse.
The alleged encounters continued three more times in 2010, May 7, August 1 and October 3.
He was charged with six counts of sexual intercourse with a person under 16, two counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 and three counts of using a child of or above the age of 14 years for the production of child abuse material.
In 2011 police allege Mr Frith met the girl seven times, twice in April, three times May and once in June and July respectively.
As a result of the alleged encounters Mr Frith was charged with 21 counts of using a child of or above the age of 14 years for the production of child abuse material, five counts of sexual intercourse with a person aged between 14 and 16 and four counts of indecent assault of a person under 16.
Following his arrest Mr Frith was granted conditional bail by police who noted the offences were historical, Mr Frith had no contact with the victim and doesn’t know where she lives, he was in a stable relationship and as he had lived at Kyogle since childhood he didn’t pose a flight risk.
Mr Frith must report to Kyogle police every Monday.
Sydney Criminal Lawyers sent Lismore Local Court a letter, dated June 1, requesting Mr Frith’s bail be varied so he doesn’t have to report to police between August 24 and September 7, when he will be overseas.
Court documents indicated this bail variation wasn’t opposed by the prosecution.
On Tuesday the court heard part of the brief of evidence had been served on the defence that morning.
The prosecution advised that more material was required to complete the brief of evidence, which was estimated to take between four and six weeks.
Magistrate Peter Bugden ordered the balance of the brief of evidence to be served by June 27.
He adjourned Mr Frith’s matters until July 4, for reply to the brief of evidence.
Mr Frith is excused from appearing on that occasion if legally represented.
