Circus matriarch: Therese Cook, 58, is understood to be the central figure in the police case. She has been charged with 43 offences
A circus matriarch revealed she was ‘lost from the back of a travelling circus truck’ as a baby, as revelations surface her brother was a nurse at a children’s hospital.
The siblings are two of four people accused of the ‘sadistic’ sexual abuse of three little boys, ranging from child rape to kidnapping and producing child abuse material, in a case one officer described as ‘the most disturbing thing I’ve read in 24 years’.
Circus boss Therese Cook, 58, who has been charged with 43 offences including aggravated assault of a child and sexual intercourse with a child under 10, revealed she was abandoned as an infant.
Years before her arrest, Cook took to the internet to reveal she was ‘tragically lost from the back of a travelling circus truck shortly after birth’.
In an online profile, the alleged ringleader of the group described herself as a ‘teacher’ and ‘carer’ at various performing arts schools, News Corp reported.
Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad allege she organised, and participated in, the systemic rape of three young boys, aged three, seven and under 10.
One of the most heinous allegations is against burlesque dancer Yyani-Rose Cook-Williams, 29
In a particularly sickening incident, Detectives allege Therese Cook choked one of the young boys before trying to rape him.
They allege she motivated her daughters to have sex with the boys while her younger brother and co-accused filmed the disturbing attacks.
Her brother, Paul Cook, 52, has been accused of filming at least one encounter on his mobile phone and three counts of aggravated sexual assault in company.
Police allege he filmed the rapes and made child exploitation material with the footage.
Paul Cook reportedly had unrestricted access to children during the period of abuse, between June 2014 and April last year.
Mr Cook was a nurse at The Sydney’s Children Hospital in the 1980s before going on to become a youth worker, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Her brother, Paul Cook, 52, has been accused of filming at least one encounter on his mobile phone and three counts of aggravated sexual assault in company
One of the most heinous allegations is against burlesque dancer and actress Yyani-Rose Cook-Williams, 29, from Canterbury – Therese’s daughter. Cook-Williams has been charged with rape, assaulting two of the boys and depriving a boy of his liberty.
She is accused of ‘inciting’ a boy to rape another little boy on Anzac Day last year. Police allege she also raped both of the boys in company with her mother.
The 29-year-old was due to begin teaching a music course for toddlers before her arrest.
The part-time burlesque dancer, has posted videos of herself performing gaudy song and dance routines on stage.
A fourth adult, Clarissa Meredith, 23, faces 13 charges related to the rape of one of the young boys, aged seven.
Three other people, including a 17-year-old girl, 18-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, have also been charged over similar acts of alleged abuse.
All four adults are alleged to have lived together in two homesteads on a dilapidated rural property next to a dog pound on the outer reaches of Sydney.
This is the inside of the performing arts school at the centre of the alleged child abuse ring
Yyani Cook-Williams is seen here in performance costume
All four adults are alleged to have lived together in two homesteads on a dilapidated rural property next to a dog pound on the outer reaches of Sydney.
When Daily Mail Australia visited the home of the four adults on Wednesday, a polka dot bow tie sat at the front gate, dogs at a nearby pound howled and the property was left completely deserted.
The only sign of life was a packed Country Road bag sitting at the front door – no doubt a sign an occupant was ready to leave.
The home – which includes a bungalow out the back- was left totally deserted except for a pair of sleeping dogs.
Friends of the group who visited the property claimed the media attention had been ‘invasive’.
But they were perhaps unaware of the scale of the allegations faced by the group.
Court documents alleged Therese Cook began indecently assaulting the boys in early 2015.
It’s alleged Therese may have raped one of the boys as early as 2014.
A Sydney court has heard the group was first made aware of the allegations against them last September.
All four adult members of the alleged ring shared this property in Sydney’s greater west
A dirty polka-dot bow tie laid next to the front gate when Daily Mail Australia visited the property on Wednesday
The remains of a swing set sits collapsed on the ground outside the bush property, which sits next to a dog pound
Sitting on the expansive property were two homesteads, a large storage shed for bikes and a cargo container
The home where all four members of the group are alleged to have lived was left completely deserted on Wednesday
This is one view of the hall where the performing arts group operated. It was eerily quiet during a visit on Wednesday
Pottery and craft supplies were on display inside the western Sydney hall where the group worked
There was no sign of life at the hall following the arrests of four adult members of the performing arts group
Police have accused one of the three women, aged 29, of inciting one little boy to have sex with another little boy
The man has been accused of twice filming sex encounters with the boys on his mobile phone
Bail documents said Therese Cook claimed to police she should get bail because ‘she did not do what she is accused of’.
She also told police she had a ‘daughter who is dependent on her’.
But she was denied bail as there was ‘a strong prosecution case and the length of time spent in custody is not likely to exceed the sentence imposed after conviction’, the documents said.
Police have expressed horror at the allegations, with a source telling News Corp they were the ‘most disturbing things I’ve read in 24 years’.
It has been claimed some of the allegations involving the small boys included ‘blood rituals’.
The group’s defence lawyer protested their innocence earlier this week.
‘They say we simply didn’t do this,’ Bryan Wrench said.
‘They have been aware of these allegations (since) September last year and have been at liberty since that time.’
The four have entered not guilty pleas have been entered to every charge.
The adults will apply to be released on bail next Friday.