A former New South Wales state MP has pleaded not guilty to a series of sexual offences against a 13-year-old boy, with the alleged victim telling a Sydney court he did not understand their first meeting was intended to be sexual. Rory Amon, 36, is accused of raping the teen at a car park bathroom in an apartment complex in 2017 after meeting on a gay hook-up site.
The now-22-year-old complainant gave evidence before a NSW Supreme Court jury on Monday, saying he was ‘developmentally not ready’ for sex with someone twice his age. ‘I was 13 – I didn’t really have a script for this kind of experience,’ he told the court under cross-examination by Amon’s barrister.
Shortly after the alleged incident, the teen messaged a friend on Instagram, describing anxiety and stomach pains. ‘I feel like I was exposed to all of this way too early and it’s kind of hard to process,’ he wrote. The jury heard he had initially been excited about the prospect of a romantic relationship.
The defence suggested Amon listed his age as 27 on the dating site, not 17 as the complainant claimed. The alleged victim insisted he was certain that was not true, while admitting he lied about his own age to sign up to the over-18 website and later told Amon he was 15. Amon denies knowing the boy was under 16.
The pair allegedly met twice in the communal bathroom, where kissing, touching and intercourse took place. On the second occasion, Amon is said to have brought a towel to lie on the floor. Amon admits meeting once but denies a second visit. The complainant told the court his memory was clear: ‘There were two incidents.’
Amon, a former Liberal MP who later served as an independent councillor, faces 10 charges including five counts of sexual intercourse with a child and two of attempted sexual intercourse with a child. The alleged victim did not report to police until years later, after realising Amon’s identity.
