Former Sydney Scoutmaster in court over child sex assault charges
A high-profile psychologist and former Scoutmaster is due to appear in court on Thursday, charged with historic sex offences.
The ABC reported Bob Montgomery had appeared as an expert on ABC radio programs, and was a guest doctor on Channel 10's Big Brother.
However at the time of the alleged offences in the 1960s, Dr Montgomery was a Scoutmaster in Sydney at Edgecliff and Marrickville.
The psychologist was extradited from the Gold Coast to Tweed Heads on Wednesday to face historic offences which police allege occurred against three 12-year-old boys who were members of his Scout group.
Officers from the Inner West and Eastern Suburbs Police Area Commands began investigating the allegations last year after three men came forward.
The 75-year-old was arrested at a Southport medical practice about 12pm on Wednesday before appearing at Southport Magistrates Court where investigators successfully applied for his extradition to NSW.
At Tweed Heads Police Station later that day he was charged with nine counts of indecent assault on a male and two counts of buggery.
In a statement, acting chief executive of Scouts Australia NSW Jane Siebum said Dr Montgomery's membership of the Scouts was terminated in 1965, and the Scouts had been working closely with the police on the investigation.
"Scouts NSW has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind," Ms Siebum said.
"The safety and protection of children in our care is our number one priority."
It's understood Scouts Australia handed information related to the alleged historic abuse to authorities during the five-year Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, which wrapped up at the end of 2017.
"Reporting is a crucial part of identifying and dealing with problems," Ms Siebum said.
"Although these allegations date back over 50 years, it is very important that survivors are encouraged to report so that prosecutions can still be conducted.
"Once the police indicate an appropriate time frame, Scouts NSW will reach out to the survivors to invite them to participate in restorative engagement."
Outside Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Dr Montgomery's solicitor Colin Greatorix said his client denied the allegations and would "vigorously contest" the charges.
"He denies the allegations completely and it is causing him great distress," Mr Greatorix said.
Dr Montgomery was refused bail and will appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Thursday.
With AAP