Maintain unlawful sexual relationship with a child

[5-700] Introduction

Last reviewed: September 2023

Under s 66EA(1) of the Crimes Act 1900, it is an offence for an adult to maintain an unlawful sexual relationship with a child. Section 66EA, in its current form, commenced on 1 December 2018. It is in the form recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and is largely modelled on the Queensland offence found in s 229B of the Criminal Code (Qld).

The new s 66EA extends to relationships existing wholly or partly before 1 December 2018, provided the accused’s acts were unlawful sexual acts during the period of the relationship: s 66EA(7). “Unlawful sexual act” is defined as any act that constitutes, or would constitute, one of the numerous sexual offences listed in s 66EA(15).

[5-710] Suggested procedure before empanelling jury and formally arraigning accused

Last reviewed: September 2023

Given the nature of this offence, it is expected the Crown would adopt the preferable, and more straightforward, course of including any alternative counts on the indictment as it is anticipated the question of alternative verdicts will arise in every case. It is also anticipated that the unlawful sexual acts making up the s 66EA offence would be particularised in the indictment.

However, if the indictment only contains a substantive s 66EA count, parties must be asked, preferably before arraignment, whether, and what, alternative verdicts will be relied on because the directions at the end of the trial must address the elements of those offences comprising the unlawful sexual acts the subject of the charge.

It is also good practice to identify with the parties precisely what is in issue in the trial, as the content of the summing-up may vary significantly.

Whether or not separate tendency directions may be required in an individual case should also be discussed with the parties as such a direction may be necessary when addressing alternative verdicts.

[5-720] Suggested direction — maintain unlawful sexual relationship with child

Last reviewed: April 2024

The following direction is suggested largely on the basis of the text of s 66EA and the five-judge bench decision of MK v R [2023] NSWCCA 180. The suggested direction should be modified as considered appropriate.

The accused is charged with maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with the complainant between the dates identified on the indictment.

Before you can find the accused guilty of the offence, the Crown must prove beyond reasonable doubt each of the following elements:

1.: that the accused, being an adult
2.: maintained an unlawful sexual relationship with the complainant
3.: who was a child.

If you are not satisfied the Crown has proved each of these elements beyond reasonable doubt then you must find the accused not guilty.

The law says an adult is a person of or above the age of 18 years and that a child is a person who is under the age of 16 years. In this case, there is no dispute that the accused was an adult and the complainant was a child under 16 during the period specified on the indictment. [This will require adaptation if the complainant’s age is in dispute].

A relationship is a way of describing the nature of the connection between two or more people such as parent and child, teacher and student or coach and player. [Where applicable: In the present case there is no dispute the relationship that existed between the complainant and the accused was one of eg, father and daughter.]

An unlawful sexual relationship is a relationship that involves two or more unlawful sexual acts over any period. An “unlawful sexual act” means an act that constitutes an offence of a sexual nature.

The critical issue is whether the relationship of [for example, father and daughter which the Crown submits existed], included an unlawful sexual relationship. To answer that question, you must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed two or more unlawful sexual acts with or towards the complainant during the period identified in the indictment.

The Crown case is that the unlawful sexual acts in this case are [summarise the evidence the Crown relies on to prove the alleged unlawful sexual acts and summarise the elements of each of those offences]. See s 66EA(2).

[If the circumstances of the particular case require it: Some sexual offences require the Crown to prove that the complainant was not consenting. But where the alleged offence involves a child, consent is irrelevant. The law says that children cannot consent to sexual activity.]

[If the Crown has charged alternate sexual acts: All of the unlawful sexual acts in this case have been charged in the alternative to Count 1 as separate offences. Each alternate count has elements which I have identified in my directions (or will identify in my directions).]

[If the Crown has not charged alternate sexual acts: None of the unlawful sexual acts in this case have been charged (in the alternative to Count 1) as separate offences. Therefore, although you need to be satisfied that two or more of these acts occurred, you do not need to be satisfied that each unlawful sexual act occurred at a specific time or place. However, you must be satisfied that the accused committed at least one unlawful sexual act in New South Wales.]

You also do not need to be satisfied that the Crown has proved that every unlawful sexual act alleged against the accused occurred. All you need to be satisfied of beyond reasonable doubt is that the accused committed two or more of the unlawful sexual acts with or towards the complainant. Further, you do not all need to agree about which two unlawful sexual acts constitute the unlawful sexual relationship. This means [give examples from Crown case such as: some of you might be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the acts described in 1 and 3 took place, while some of you might be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the events described in 4 and 5 took place]. In other words, provided you are all satisfied that at least two unlawful sexual acts took place, even if you do not agree on which two (or more) acts have been proved beyond reasonable doubt, that is sufficient to prove the element of unlawful sexual relationship. If you have to consider whether the Crown has established one of the alternative counts on the indictment then the situation is different and I will talk to you about the approach you must take then. See s 66EA(5).

[Where applicable if certain of the unlawful sexual acts were committed outside of NSW]: In this case, the Crown case is that some of the unlawful sexual acts did not occur in New South Wales but in [identify the different location/s of unlawful sexual acts]. Before you can find the accused guilty, you must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that at least one unlawful sexual act occurred in New South Wales. You cannot find the accused guilty if all the unlawful sexual acts you are satisfied occurred took place outside New South Wales. See s 66EA(3)]

[Summarise the defence case on the unlawful sexual acts. For example, none of these acts happened at all. There was no unlawful sexual relationship at all. At no time did the accused sexually assault the complainant in any way].

Alternative verdicts – s 66EA(13)

See note 11 below which addresses issues for consideration when determining the appropriate direction with respect to alternative verdicts

If the Crown has failed to prove one of the essential elements of the offence, then you must find the accused not guilty and will be required to return verdicts in respect of the alternative charges. I will now explain what the Crown must prove before you can return a verdict of guilty in relation to those charges.

[5-730] Notes

Last reviewed: September 2023

1.: An offence against s 66EA is a “prescribed sexual offence”: see s 3, Criminal Procedure Act 1986. Accordingly, those provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act and the Crimes Act concerning how complainants may give evidence apply: see further Evidence given by alternative means at [1-360]ff, and Closed court, suppression and non-publication orders at [1-349].
2.: An “unlawful sexual relationship” is defined as a relationship in which an adult engages in two or more unlawful sexual acts with or towards a child over any period: s 66EA(2). See DPP (NSW) v Presnell (2022) 108 NSWLR 407 for a discussion of the phrase “with or towards” in the context of sexual act offences under Crimes Act, s 66DC(a). As the suggested direction indicates, the summing-up must also address the elements of the offences which comprise the alleged unlawful sexual acts: JJP v R [2021] SASCA 53 at [157].
3.: An “unlawful sexual act” is comprehensively defined in s 66EA(15) as an act that constitutes, or would constitute, one of the many offences listed and includes former sexual offences which are identified in Column 1 of Sch 1A of the Act.
4.: Section 66EA requires proof of the existence of a relationship “in which” two or more unlawful sexual acts were committed: MK v R [2023] NSWCCA 180 at [6], [99]–[100]; R v Mann (2020) 135 SASR 457 at [21]. The offence may involve an established relationship such as parent and child, teacher and student or coach and player which is corrupted by the commission of two or more unlawful sexual acts within that relationship. In some cases, the “relationship” might be something that arises from the facts and circumstances of the commission of the unlawful sexual acts themselves so that the provision excludes from the scope of the offence a person who commits unlawful sexual acts with a child with whom they have no relationship: MK v R at [18], [95].
5.: The word “maintains” in s 66EA(1) does not add anything to the actus reus of the offence beyond satisfaction of s 66EA(2): MK v R at [18], [79], [95]. Previous authorities requiring the existence of a sexual relationship over and above the unlawful sexual act (see RW v R [2023] NSWCCA 2 at [166]–[169], [173]–[174]; [180], R v RB [2022] NSWCCA 142 at [62]) are plainly wrong: MK v R at [6].
6.: An adult is defined as someone 18 years or older and a child is a person under 16 years old: s 66EA(15).
7.: Consent is not a defence: s 80AE. Notwithstanding the operation of s 80AE, in certain circumstances it may be prudent to direct a jury that a child cannot consent to an unlawful sexual act. In R v Nelson [2016] NSWCCA 130 at [23], Basten JA explained why consent was not an element of an offence against s 66C of the Crimes Act : see also R v McClymont (unrep, 17/12/92, NSWCCA); R v Woods [2009] NSWCCA 55 at [53]. Although those are sentencing cases, the way the issue has been articulated is uncontroversial as they explain the legislative policy underpinning offences of this type.
8.: The jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that there was an unlawful sexual relationship but are not required to be satisfied of the particulars of any unlawful sexual act that they would have to be satisfied of if the act, or acts, were charged as separate offences: s 66EA(5). Particulars in this sense refers to particulars as to time and place: JJP v R at [145], [154]. However, it is still necessary to prove the general nature or character of those acts by reference to the elements of the relevant sexual offences; merely establishing the relevant acts were of a sexual or indecent nature is not sufficient: JJP v R at [154]
9.: The jury is not required to agree about which two unlawful sexual acts constitute the unlawful sexual relationship: s 66EA(5)(c).
10.: A separate tendency direction may be necessary when giving a jury an alternative verdict direction: see Tendency, coincidence and background evidence at [4-200]ff.
11.: The direction to be given with respect to alternative verdicts depends on the issues in the particular trial. The importance of identifying the issues with the parties before the trial commences has been dealt with above at [5-710].
12.: Generalised offences such as this create the potential for unfairness to an accused. It is therefore necessary to ensure the summing up includes whatever directions are necessary to ensure the accused’s trial is fair: KRM v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 221 at [97]–[101] (dealing with a similar Victorian provision); see also ARS v R [2011] NSWCCA 266 at [35]–[37] per Bathurst CJ (James and Johnson JJ agreeing) with respect to the previous form of s 66EA.

Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book — Sexual assault offences