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The father of a former swimming coach accused of sexually touching his students has repeatedly shook his head in anger in court as his son’s lengthy trial draws to a close.
Kyle James Henk Daniels is on trial for 21 offenses related to the alleged sexual touching of nine girls, aged between five and ten, whom he taught to swim at the Mosman Swim Center on Sydney’s lower north coast.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The 23-year-old has had the full support of his parents, with the pair often sitting off court almost every day.
And while his mother and father, Janine and James, have kept their mouths shut during Daniels’ trial, his father’s behavior changed slightly on Wednesday when the Crown began its closing statements at the Downing Center District Court in Sydney.
Daniels’ father repeatedly shook his head as the Crown spoke on Wednesday, with his wife intently by his side and son in the dock.
Kyle Daniels (center) with his mother and father walking into Downing Center Court in Sydney
The swimming coach is accused of touching nine of his young female students
Mr Daniels’ parents assisted him throughout the process
At one point where prosecutor Tony McCarthy told the court how a girl allegedly described Mr Daniels’ behavior while swimming as “a little weird,” the suspect’s father shook his head and stared at the ground.
Mr. Daniels often arrives at court flanked by his mother, father, or both, with the trio usually walking in and out of the court complex in a close-knit group.
The alleged violations facing Daniels relate to the time he worked as a children’s swim coach at the Mosman Swim Center between 2018 and 2019.
He is charged with five counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10, eight counts of sexually touching a child and eight counts of indecent assault.
On Wednesday, Crown Prosecutor Tony McCarthy referred to a conversation between a girl and her mother after she was allegedly touched by Mr Daniels.
The girl, then seven years old, was told by her mother that she was being taught by another teacher.
Mr McCarthy told the court that the girl then told her mother that she was ‘happy’ because ‘I didn’t like the way he held me, he held me between my legs and moved his fingers’.
Mr Daniels’ father (center) has repeatedly shaken his head during Wednesday’s closing statement from the Crown
The court heard that Daniels was subsequently sued by the Mosman Swim Center, where he agreed to change his grip on his students, but denied that it was necessary for him to do so.
After an initial complaint was made to the swim center, a memo was circulated to staff about not holding children close to the groin or chest.
Mr Daniels returned a signed copy.
But in evidence this week, the 23-year-old couldn’t recall signing the memo or changing any technique, Mr McCarthy told the court.
He said it seemed “a little unusual” that the swim coach would not remember the memo, as it related to a complaint about his alleged behaviour.
“This event was supposed to be an important and meaningful event in his life,” said Mr. McCarthy.
“His claim that it was too long ago, he had no memory of things that happened four years ago, doesn’t match the evidence.”
Mr Daniels’ alleged violation occurred at the Mosman Swim Center between 2018 and 2019
Mr McCarthy told the court that the swim center’s location manager said Mr Daniels’ behavior with his students after being addressed was “chalk and cheese” and that he was much less playful with the girls.
Two sisters were also allegedly abused by Mr Daniels, the court heard.
Mr McCarthy told the court that a girl allegedly gave her mother a note that read: ‘The reason I don’t like my swimming teacher is because he touched my…’ and left the last word blank, of which she later said it was her private parts.
The girl was removed from the classroom, but her younger sister remained a student of Mr. Daniels.
The younger sibling later told her mother she wanted to go back to her old swimming school and claimed that Mr. Daniels touched her in her vagina while she was swimming.
“She told her mother that it (the accused’s hands) felt like a worm,” Mr McCarthy said in court.
“Then she squeezed her legs and buttocks together so he wouldn’t do it again.”
The girl claimed that neither she nor Mr Daniels said anything and she continued to swim.
Kyle Daniels usually arrives at court for his trial, flanked by his mother, his father or both
Mr McCarthy gave more details about the alleged abuse, saying that a girl claimed that Mr Daniels had “dug” his fingers into her vagina and that his fingernail was jammed.
“She said it hurt her and she was really hurting. She said it was always her “front” and not her “back,” he said.
Another alleged victim, aged seven, claimed Daniels had “bundled” her swimming suit around her vagina when she torpedoed the diving blocks and he pushed her away.
The girl claimed that her teacher, whom she called “Kylie,” put his hand through the holes in her swimsuit where her legs were, and placed his hand on her vagina.
“She was too shy and didn’t want to tell anyone,” Mr McCarthy said, adding that it would have happened three times.
Daniels’ defense has argued that he did not knowingly or intentionally touch the children in a sexual or indecent manner.
The 23-year-old vehemently denies the allegations.
The process continues.