Seven people connected to a children’s performing arts school west of Sydney were allegedly involved in the repeated rape and abuse of three young boys – some of which was filmed – court documents show.
The alleged abuse of the children, who were all aged under eight at the time, reportedly included sadistic sex acts and ‘blood rituals’.
Some, possibly all, of the accused are related to the victims, although it’s unclear how many.
The group is collectively facing 127 charges, including kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10 in company and using a child under 14 to make child abuse material.
Seven people connected to a children’s performing arts school west of Sydney were allegedly involved in the repeated rape and abuse of three young boys. One of the seven is pictured
Three women – aged 26, 29 and 58 – and a 52-year-old man were arrested on Monday after a long investigation.
According to the court documents, the 29-year-old and 58-year-old woman are accused of each having sexual intercourse with two boys without consent.
The younger woman is also alleged to have incited the boys to have sex with each other.
A source involved in the investigation told The Daily Telegraph the allegations were ‘the most disturbing things I’ve read in my 24 years in this job’.
The school’s 58-year-old owner, her brother, 52, and two daughters, 29 and 26, allegedly carried out the abuse at the facility’s warehouse base, the paper reported.
But the lawyer for the four oldest accused claims there’s ‘another side to this story’ and they deny all of the charges.
According to the court documents, the 29-year-old and 58-year-old woman (pictured) are accused of each having sexual intercourse with two boys without consent
A 17-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman were also arrested.
All seven were involved in the school which catered for children with and without disabilities.
Some of the accused have already entered pleas of not guilty following brief mentions at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.
Four of them are expected to apply for bail next week.
Lawyer Bryan Wrench told the court the alleged offenders said ‘we did not do this’ and added ‘there is another side to this story’.
A shed at the performing arts school at the centre of the child abuse allegations is pictured
‘They’ve always been ready to meet with police and we hope to get them bail,’ Mr Wrench said outside court.
Two of the three accused, who had their matters mentioned in children’s courts, didn’t apply for bail and it was formally refused.
They’re next due back in court on March 20.
The arrests were part of Strikeforce Baillieu which was launched in July to investigate reports of sexual and physical abuse of three boys.
This photo gives a look inside the performing arts school
The 29-year-old accused worked in theatre, television and burlesque, according to her online profiles.
She recently took to social media calling for a music teacher to cover a class, with the requirement of a Working With Children Check.
‘Looking for someone to cover a five to eight-year-old music class for two weeks in February. Must have WWCC and insurance,’ she wrote.
Earlier, the woman spoke of her challenges in 2017 and her optimism for the future.
The 29-year-old accused recently took to social media calling for a teacher to cover a class, with the requirement of a Working With Children Check
‘Lots of ups and downs this year. I did a bunch of stuff I’d wanted to do for a long time,’ she wrote.
‘But this year has also included some of the worst, most challenging days of my life. Ready for 2018 now.’
Her social media pages reveal her love of the limelight, with countless photos showing her performing on stage wearing extravagant outfits and makeup.
In other posts, she has expressed her support for Manus Island refugees and advocated marriage equality.
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