Former Liberal MP's Barrister Claims Teenager Deceived About Age Before Sexual Encounter
A New South Wales Supreme Court jury has heard that a teenager lied about his age to a former Liberal MP before the pair engaged in sexual activity on the floor of a grimy underground car park bathroom. The defence for Rory Amon, a 27-year-old aspiring politician at the time, argued that this was not a case of an adult preying on children, but rather a situation where the alleged victim misrepresented his age to facilitate the meeting.
Defence Argues Age Deception Led to Meeting
Defence barrister Matthew Johnston SC told the court on Tuesday that Amon met the 13-year-old boy on a gay dating website which required users to be over 18 to sign up. Johnston emphasised that this was not a scenario where an adult was lurking in chatrooms frequented by minors. Instead, he claimed the teenager admitted to lying about his age twice: once when creating his profile and again during conversations with Amon.
Johnston stated that if the boy had revealed his true age of 15, as he later claimed in testimony, Amon would have immediately ceased communication. The barrister suggested that the teen reinforced his deception by sending photos and messages designed to appear older, with the explicit intent of meeting Amon for sexual purposes.
Crown Prosecution Presents Contrasting Narrative
Crown prosecutor Meaghan Fleeton urged the jury to reject Amon's assertion that he believed the teenager was above the age of consent. She argued that it should have been obvious to Amon upon meeting the boy in person that he was under 16. Fleeton portrayed the former MP as intelligent and articulate, alleging that he manipulated the child by lying about his own age before pursuing and sexually assaulting him.
The prosecutor highlighted the emotional impact on the alleged victim, noting that he broke down when shown photos of the "dirty, hidden car park toilet" where his first sexual experience occurred. She described this as a "significant and life-changing course of events" for a child with no prior sexual experience.
Charges and Allegations Detailed
Rory Amon, now 36 years old, has pleaded not guilty to ten charges including child sexual abuse, child rape, and indecent assault. While he admits to one sexual encounter with the boy in July 2017, he denies allegations of a second meeting where a towel was reportedly brought to the bathroom. The defence suggested that the complainant's memory of events may have "grown" over time as he grappled with the psychological impact.
The alleged victim first disclosed details of the incident to his mother, friends, a school counsellor, and a psychologist shortly after it occurred. He became aware of Amon's identity in 2020 during a COVID-19 announcement when Amon was serving as a councillor. The two reconnected on Snapchat in 2019 and later on Grindr in 2022, where Amon sent photos including one in his volunteer firefighter uniform.
The trial continues, with the jury tasked with weighing the conflicting accounts of age deception versus predatory behaviour in this high-profile case.
