A complaint was made about a 20-year-old Sydney swimming instructor accused of raping young girls some nine months before he was charged, a NSW court has heard.
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Kyle James Henk Daniels is accused of sexually assaulting eight girls - aged between five and 10 - during lessons at a Mosman swim school between June 2018 and March 2019.
Daniels was granted bail at Manly Local Court on Wednesday just hours after an additional 28 offences were laid by police, bringing the total number of charges to 31.
The initial three charges laid last week related to two sisters aged six and eight. They include two counts of intentionally sexually touching a child and having sexual intercourse with a child in February.
The additional charges include eight counts of sexual intercourse with a child, six counts of intentionally sexually touching a child and 14 counts of indecent assault of a person under 16.
The court was told a complaint was first made to the swim school by parents in July 2018 citing "unorthodox hands-on instruction" by Daniels during lessons.
"The complaint was about inappropriate touching to the outer parts of (the girl's) vagina area," magistrate Daniel Reiss said.
A subsequent memo was sent to all staff in August 2018 instructing them not to "hold children close to the groin and/or chest area".
It cautioned staff to avoid being "overly playful and unnecessarily hands-on" in the water.
In arguing for Daniels' release, defence barrister Todd Alexis SC told the court the incidents may have "happened by accident".
"He strongly denies that any touching of these young girls was sexual in any way whatsoever," Mr Alexis said.
"For a young man of 20 years who is a university student, doing what is alleged to have occurred in those circumstances, it is glaringly impossible."
Mr Alexis said Daniels has already spent a week in jail and during that time he had received death threats after a prison guard read out his charges in front of other inmates.
He said his client would be "devastated" if he was unable to complete his studies at the University of Sydney with his peers.
In granting Daniels' release, Mr Reiss said strict bail conditions would mitigate any community safety concerns.
Daniels will have to surrender his passport, report daily to police and have no contact with children under the age of 16.
Appearing via video link, Daniels smiled at his parents and identical twin brother who were in court when bail was approved
The 20-year-old's employment with the swim school has been suspended and investigations are continuing, NSW Police said.
He's due to face court again in May.
Australian Associated Press
