Aussie babysitter charged with 194 sex offences
Jareth Harries-Markham, a 23-year-old man from Western Australia, has been charged with 194 sex offences involving a dozen children he molested when he was working as a childminder.
Police say Harries-Markham advertised his services online on a site and then allegedly sexually assaulted his victims while babysitting them.
The alleged victims are aged between eight months and nine years old, and are said to have happened between July last year and August this year.
Harries-Markham was arrested in August and initially charged with 14 offences, but in a Perth Magistrate’s Court on Monday, it was revealed he is now facing a total of 194 charges relating to nine separate alleged victims.
Charges include possessing prohibited weapons
These charges include the sexual penetration of a child under 13, indecently dealing with a child under 13, possessing and producing child exploitation material, and possessing prohibited and controlled weapons.
The 23-year-old appeared in court via video link but only spoke to confirm his name.
Harries-Markham advertised his services on WeNeedANanny.com, describing himself as someone who loved “helping bring up kids to be the best they can be”.
He said he had four years’ experience in babysitting, a ‘Working With Children’ check, a police check and a certificate in first aid.
‘I’m a pretty easy-going guy who is open to care for any age any hours,’ he wrote on the website.
‘Open to handling things anyway the family wants,’ he added.
Harries-Markham will be back in court again on October 18.
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