A former politician's alleged sexual abuse of a young teenager inflicted profound mental struggles on the boy as he grappled with processing the traumatic events, a New South Wales Supreme Court jury has been told. Ex-state MP Rory Amon, aged 36, has entered a plea of not guilty to a series of criminal acts against a 13-year-old boy at a Sydney apartment complex back in 2017.
Initial Contact and Alleged Encounters
The pair initially connected through a gay hook-up website before moving their conversations to Snapchat, where they arranged two meetings in a car park bathroom. It was in this location that rape and other serious offences are alleged to have occurred. The alleged victim, now 22 years old, returned to the witness stand on Monday to provide his testimony before the jury.
Age Discrepancies and Misrepresentations
Rory Amon had accurately listed his age as 27 on the dating site, according to submissions made by his lawyer. Under intense questioning from Amon's barrister, Matthew Johnston SC, the alleged victim stated that he would not have fully comprehended that the first meeting was intended for a sexual encounter. "I was 13 - I didn't really have a script for this kind of experience," he informed the jury.
Having previously expressed excitement to a friend about the possibility of a romantic relationship, the brief sexual encounter with Amon fell far short of his expectations. "I was developmentally not ready to be having sex, let alone with somebody twice my age," the alleged victim testified.
Mental Health Impact and Disclosure
He revealed what transpired to a friend shortly after the incidents, the jury heard. In an Instagram message, he expressed, "I feel like I was exposed to all of this way too early and it's kind of hard to process. My anxiety about it is that bad and I get stomach pains."
Mr Johnston suggested that his client had truthfully listed his age as 27 on the dating platform, not 17 as the complainant had earlier testified. "I am certain that that is not true," the alleged victim firmly replied. The younger man admitted to lying about his own age to register on the 18-and-over website and later misrepresented himself as 15 years old to Amon.
Allegations and Denials
Amon strongly denies allegations that he was aware the complainant was under 16 years of age. "I suggest to you, you communicated to the accused you were 17 years old," Mr Johnston proposed. "I am certain that is not possible," the alleged victim countered.
Details of the Alleged Incidents
On Friday, jurors were informed that Amon and the teenager, who was in year 8 at the time, met on two separate occasions in the apartment block's communal bathroom. A number of sexual acts are alleged to have taken place there, including kissing, touching, and sexual intercourse. During the second meeting, Amon allegedly brought a towel so they could lie down on the bathroom floor.
Amon admits to meeting with the teen on one occasion but asserts he never returned for a second visit—a claim directly contested by the alleged victim on Monday. "My memory serves me right ... there were two incidents," the now-22-year-old told jurors. "The second occasion did not appear out of thin air."
Delayed Reporting and Legal Proceedings
The complainant disclosed the alleged assaults to his teacher, psychiatrist, parents, and friends in 2017. However, he did not file a formal complaint with the police until years later, after Amon had become a local councillor and the boy realised the politician's true identity.
The former MP has pleaded not guilty to ten charges, which include five counts of having sexual intercourse with a child and two counts of attempted sexual intercourse with a child. He also denies charges of indecent assault. The trial is ongoing.
