Cop who allegedly lied during footy star Jack De Belin’s rape trial is branded a ‘flight risk’ as his case hits court for the first time
- Dragons star and co-suspect faced two trials
- Both trials ended in hung juries
- Shawn Adams has been charged with perjury
A former NSW police officer accused of perjury over evidence he provided during NRL star Jack De Belin’s sex abuse trial has had bail conditions imposed as his case was heard in court for the first time.
Former Detective Senior Constable Shawn Adams was charged with perjury in connection with Mr de Belin’s case in the Wollongong District Court in February 2020.
The Director of Public Prosecutions dropped sexual abuse charges against Mr De Belin and his co-accused Callan Sinclair in mid-2021 after two court trials that ended in hung juries.
Both consistently maintained that they were innocent of all charges and that they had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Dragons star Jack De Belin (pictured outside court in 2021) faced two rape trials, both of which ended in hung juries
The Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped the sexual abuse charges against De Belin and his co-accused Callan Sinclair (photo outside court)
They were found not guilty of one charge of sexual assault after their second trial, but the jury could not reach a decision on the remaining charges before the DPP opted not to proceed with a third trial.
In 2021, the NSW Police Professional Standards Command began an investigation under the umbrella of Strike Force Ephemeris to investigate the conduct of officers in the case.
NSW Police said that after receiving advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Adams was charged with giving false testimony under oath amounting to perjury.
Former Detective Senior Constable Shawn Adams has been charged with perjury over his conduct during the investigation into allegations that De Belin (pictured with partner Alyce Taylor) raped a 19-year-old Wollongong woman in 2018.
The St George Illawarra star (pictured) was banned from playing in the NRL as a result of the charges against him
Adams, 48, was not present in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday as the matter was first mentioned.
The Public Prosecution Service requested that bail conditions be imposed due to the flight risk.
“These are very serious charges and to be on the safe side there must be something to limit the risk of flight,” Magistrate Claire Girotto said.
Ms Girotto imposed bail conditions including that Mr Adams live alone at an address in Wilton, southwest of Sydney, and that he not approach a departure point.
He will appear in court again in August.