David Joseph Perrett granted conditional bail to live in Armidale on historical sex abuse charges

By Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader
May 8, 2017

https://goo.gl/RpIMD7

Conditional liberty: David Joseph Perrett was granted bail in an out-of-sessions hearing in Armidale Local Court on the weekend.

AN EX-priest accused of molesting young boys in the New England has been granted bail amid reports detectives have received another complaint.

Since The Leader revealed David Joseph Perrett’s extradition to NSW on Friday, police have been contacted by other members of the public looking to speak to investigators.

New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader investigations were continuing.

“We would encourage anyone with knowledge of any related incident, whether it is a witness or a complainant, to make contact with police,” she said.

“We will investigate those matters thoroughly and as a matter of priority.”

We would encourage anyone with knowledge of any related incident, whether it is a witness or a complainant, to make contact with police. - New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy

Perrett, 79, fronted an out-of-sessions bail hearing in Armidale Local Court on Saturday where he was granted conditional release on nine charges of indecent assault on a male.

According to court documents, the former Catholic priest who lives in Wallangara, has been ordered to live with a family member in Armidale.

He’s been ordered not to leave home unaccompanied and must report to police four times a week.

He is also prohibited from going within 50m of any school, playground or place frequented by young people.

Police opposed the former priest’s bail after Armidale detectives travelled to Warwick in Queensland late last week to arrest him.

According to court documents, a sergeant argued that despite the historical nature of the allegations, Perrett was facing a jail sentence if convicted.

He also argued there were four alleged victims, and another member of the public had come forward since the matter was made public on Friday afternoon.

Defence solicitor Elizabeth Stahlut said her client was an upstanding community member who had complied with bail previously and would plead not guilty.

She submitted Perrett ran a homeless shelter at Wallangarra, where he has lived for 18 years.

Detectives allege Perrett indecently assault one young boy three times between January 1 and December 31, 1970, at Armidale.

He’s also accused of assaulting the same young boy in Armidale twice in 1971 and then again in 1972.

Perrett is also alleged to have indecently abused two young boys in Lower Creek, at different times in 1976, and a fourth boy at Guyra between 1982 and 83.