The ACT Magistrates Court heard Sydney man David Alan Dempsey has been issued an extra charge. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged sexual assault and child abuse.
A former teacher from Canberra has been accused of sexually assaulting a second teenage girl decades ago following media reporting about the allegations against him.
Last year, the then-67-year-old David Alan Dempsey was issued charges accusing him of raping or indecently abusing the first girl while they were in a “student-teacher-type relationship” in the 1990s.
This girl would have been aged 15 and 16 at the time.
Then on Thursday (23 October), the ACT Magistrates Court heard the Sydney man had been issued a fresh charge of sexual intercourse without consent relating to a second girl.
She would have been 16 at the time of the alleged assault in the 1980s.
His lawyer, Peter Woodhouse of CODA Criminal Law, said his client had been excused from attending court in person and would enter a not guilty plea to his fresh charge.
Mr Woodhouse said the case was “a complicated historical sexual assault matter” and about 30 witness statements remained outstanding.
Prosecutor Julia McLean said after media reported on the original charges, “there have been various people who have been in touch with the AFP in relation to this”.
The matter was adjourned to December.
Mr Dempsey was issued eight charges relating to the first girl, for which he has entered pleas of not guilty.
These are one count of sexual intercourse with a person under 16, four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of committing an act of indecency in the presence of a young person.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
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