Former bank exec accused of grooming girls found dead
A former Commonwealth Bank executive accused of grooming underage girls for sex has been found dead, days after appearing in court.
Christopher James McCann, 50, was charged with one count of using the internet to procure children aged under 16.
He appeared in Brisbane Arrest Court on Monday where he was granted bail after being extradited from NSW.
Queensland Police confirmed McCann, who was from Sydney suburb Curl Curl, was found dead on Wednesday at Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland, a suburb where he was living as part of his bail conditions.
“A report will be prepared for the coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday,” police said.
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McCann’s alleged offending was described on Monday by Magistrate Louise Shephard as “terribly serious”.
He allegedly engaged Brisbane sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went, 18, to supply the services of two girls aged 14 or 15.
He was accused of making an arrangement and agreeing on a price to use Went’s services alongside two underage girls.
Went and the girls allegedly went to a Brisbane CBD five-star hotel, and the teens were on their way to the room when McCann contacted the front desk to ask them to leave.
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It was not alleged the girls entered the room, Shephard said on Monday.
McCann’s employment had been terminated following the charges, and his assets were frozen.
He was granted bail ahead of an August 4 court date on the condition that he had an overnight curfew and was limited to one mobile phone with no encrypted applications.
Co-accused Went will next appear in court on August 4.
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– AAP
