An ABC investigation has found a sub-culture of sexual violence including child abuse existed in Byron Bay in the early 2000’s, with at least fifteen survivor victims having spoken out.
The report comes with NSW Police understood to be investigating more complaints against a man accused of using his connection to a famous band to lure girls in their teens into sexual abuse.
Jed Daniel Gordon is the brother of a Parkway Drive member and was part of their merchandise team, carrying and handing out business cards shared in the ABC report that described him as the band’s tour manager/dude.
The band says they didn’t realise the extent of his predatory behaviour at the time and have extended sympathies to his victims.
Jed Gordon’s name is now on the state’s child protection register after he was sentenced in the Byron Bay Local Court last week to a three-year community corrections order and 300 hours of community service for his assault of Rachel Kila.
The court heard he was 21 when he assaulted the then fifteen-year-old.
Ms Kila is now 38 and says she was motivated to report the abuse to police when her daughter turned fifteen.
She has waived her legal right to anonymity as a child victim of crime saying she hopes other victims come forward.
Ms Kila is one of 35 people to speak to the ABC about the experiences of young girls in Byron Bay in the early 2000s, with the abusive culture also referred to in a 2006 Byron Shire Echo article.
Fifteen allege rape when they were as young as twelve at the hands of older boys and men and seven say they were in relationships with older men when they were teenagers.
This report first aired on community radio station Bayfm.
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