Former ACT Labor politician Gordon Ramsay is facing allegations that he groomed a teenage boy by cultivating a close personal relationship, lavishing him with gifts, supplying alcohol, and requesting increasingly sexualised images. The claims are detailed in newly released court documents, made public after a suppression order was partially lifted.
Background of the case
Ramsay, who was arrested in October last year following a police complaint, is charged with grooming the teen between 2022 and 2024. He has pleaded not guilty. The details underpinning the charge have only now come to light after the ACT Magistrates Court lifted a suppression order, releasing a redacted statement of facts.
Alleged initial contact and escalation
According to the court documents seen by the ABC and Canberra Times, Ramsay and the boy allegedly first connected on Instagram, with their contact escalating into regular in-person meetings. Police allege the two dined together at least once a week, often at expensive steak restaurants, and attended theatre performances. Their connection reportedly expanded to weekends and frequent phone calls.
The statement of facts claims Ramsay began a pattern of persistent messages. 'The defendant began messaging … "Good morning" and "Good night" every day, along with lengthy messages throughout the day,' it states. 'In a single day [the alleged victim] would receive more messages from the defendant than the rest of his friends combined.'
Alleged grooming behaviour
After several months, police allege Ramsay told the boy he 'was very special' and promised to 'treat him as an adult' and 'keep the communication between only them'. The documents further allege Mr Ramsay knowingly broke family rules by giving the teenager small bottles of alcohol during meetings. Ramsay allegedly suggested the boy send him images related to the removal of clothing, which he called 'SPUN' images.
Police allege Ramsay set up a shared iCloud folder, accessible only by the pair, specifically to upload these images. 'The SPUN images were to be taken by [the alleged victim] and uploaded daily,' the statement of facts continues. The images initially depicted the boy 'posing, smiling and clothed'. Authorities allege Ramsay slowly pushed the boy's boundaries over time.
Further escalation and family concerns
The documents state he later asked the teenager to send photos in his underwear. '[The boy] … was initially hesitant to do this, however the defendant reassured him, stating that if he has trusted everything until now, that he could keep trusting him,' the statement alleges. It further claims 'the defendant continually pushed … boundaries with the SPUN photographs and continually suggested more sexualised content'. Police say Ramsay also bought the teen clothing, including underwear and lingerie, and purchased sex toys as gifts.
The boy's family reportedly raised concerns in June 2024 about the amount of time the pair were spending together. Later messages allegedly show Ramsay urging the boy to delete images after learning the parents were considering calling police. He is said to have written that, due to his 'parents mentioning going to the police, they needed to delete the SPUN photographs'. Police allege Ramsay then emailed instructions to move images into one folder and delete the shared account.
Arrest and court proceedings
Officers arrested Ramsay following a search of his car and home, seizing electronic devices believed to contain communications between him and the boy. The case has been delayed to allow forensic examination of the material. Ramsay is due back in court later this month.
