Yellowbox Lockers
Yellowbox is an Australian technology company that has developed smart locker technology operated through an app with a focus on experience for users and facility managers. Found at Beaches, Aquatic…
read moreThe jury in the trial of Sydney swimming teaching Kyle Daniels has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict for the majority of his child sexual abuse charges.
With Daniels acquitted on five charges on Thursday, the trial of the former Sydney swimming instructor will return to the NSW District Court in February after the jury was discharged because it could not reach a verdict on 21 outstanding sexual abuse charges.
With two jurors in the seven-week sexual abuse case dismissed because of travel plans and COVID-19, the remaining 10 were deadlocked with no prospect of a resolution.
Daniels, a former Knox Grammar School pupil, pleaded not guilty to 26 charges related to nine young girls who he taught at the Mosman Swim Centre between 2018 and 2019.
The 22-year-old was last week acquitted of five charges, including sexual intercourse with a child, but on Monday acknowledged it could not reach a verdict on the outstanding charges.
Judge Kara Shead told the remaining 10 jurors on Monday “I know you’ve applied your very careful attention and considered approach to your verdicts.”
Judge Shead also told the panel there was counselling available, given the "difficult" subject matter of the trial.
The allegations related to one young girl who said it felt like his hands were “digging into her private parts” when his fingers slipped underneath her swimming costume.
During a seven-week trial, Daniels denied opportunistically touching students aged between five and 10 on or near their genitals for his own sexual gratification while instructing them between February 2018 and February 2019.
The Crown argued the 23 incidents over 13 months showed a pattern of behaviour in which Daniels brazenly took advantage of the students under his care.
The Court watched pre-recorded video evidence from all nine complainants, who were interviewed by NSW Police and were cross-examined in pre-trial hearings.
They variously recalled feeling "weird", "confused" and "creeped out" when their teacher allegedly touched them in the pool.
The initial complaints related to two girls before more came forward.
Daniels rejected each specific allegation put to him under cross-examination and said he had "absolutely not" touched any of them inappropriately.
His defence argued parents lied and changed their evidence after mistakenly believing he had abused their daughters, highlighting inconsistencies in the complainants' evidence and questioned whether their accounts had been contaminated, including by hearsay and media reporting.
When he stepped into the witness box, Daniels told the jury he was "in disbelief" and "dumbfounded" about the allegations following his March 2019 arrest.
He also said police officers at Manly Police Station called him a "disgusting paedo" and laughed about what they thought would happen to him in prison.
Daniels described his job as a swimming teacher as "incredibly rewarding" because he was able to see students acquire skills he taught.
Image: Kyle Daniels at Knox Grammar School.
16th December 2020 - Actor Craig McLachlan found not guilty of assault and indecent assault charges
6th October 2020 - Royal Life Saving concerned over significant fall in swimming lesson enrolments
29th July 2020 - ‘No evidence’ of sexual assault on two-year-old at Sydney play centre
10th March 2020 - Child sex charges against swim coach Scott Volkers will not proceed
7th November 2019 - Sydney swim school teacher pleads ‘not guilty’ to sex charges
27th September 2019 - Southern Sydney swimming teacher facing 57 charges over historical sexual assaults on children
10th September 2019 - Victorian hospitality venues pledge to halt workplace sexual harassment
19th July 2019 - NSW music festival deaths inquiry told trauma of strip-searches similar to that of sexual assaults
3rd July 2019 - Volleyball coach who had sex with teenager player given suspended jail term
22nd March 2019 - Sydney swim school to introduce ‘additional safety measures’ after teacher accused of child sex abuse
9th August 2019 - Sydney swim teacher facing 46 charges and potential life imprisonment
21st March 2019 - Sydney swimming instructor charged with 28 extra child sex abuse offences
15th March 2019 - Sydney swim teacher charged over sexual abuse of young girls
17th February 2018 - Investigation shows elevated bacteria levels in Sydney swimming pools
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
Yellowbox is an Australian technology company that has developed smart locker technology operated through an app with a focus on experience for users and facility managers. Found at Beaches, Aquatic…
read moreKnown as Hydrilla since September 2020 - see www.ausleisure.com.au/suppliers/hydrilla-pty-ltd
read moreTurnstile Entry Systems and Access Control Centaman Entrance Controls’ Award Winning Range of Access Control Systems includes tripod & triarm turnstiles, speedgates, full height…
read morePlayrope Aqua-Fun, are the Australian & New Zealand exclusive distributors for Vortex Aquatic Structures International, the world leader in aquatic playgrounds and urban water landscapes.…
read moreSLE Worldwide Australia is a Managing General Underwriter specialising in insuring risks in the world of Sports, Leisure and Entertainment. Be it relaxing, playing, organising or watching sports,…
read moreQuayclean are a national cleaning and waste services partner with proven results in the understanding and delivery of cleaning needs and challenges faced by facilities including; major venues and…
read moreHeadquartered in Brisbane with an Australia-wide network of satellite offices, PaySmart is one of Australia’s largest and longest-standing direct debit billing companies. In 1996 we began…
read moreSeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!