Accused child sex predator ‘has history’

A WA counsellor accused of using his work to sexually prey on vulnerable teenagers was prosecuted in 1991 for indecently dealing with a boy while employed with the Department of Community Services.

The “extraordinary” scale of Allan Keith Huggins’ alleged sex crimes against teenagers he was meant to be helping was yesterday aired in a Perth courtroom, where prosecutors opposed bail on the basis of their “strong” case.

Accusations about the counsellor were described to Perth Magistrate’s Court as dating back to the late 1970s, occurring as recently as 2010, and crossing State borders, with police now investigating claims made against him in NSW.

Prosecutor Alan Dungey said WA police had records of complaints against Mr Huggins while he was head of a residential college in NSW in the 1980s and that by the time Mr Huggins had moved to WA, he had a “well-established” propensity to offend against people through his work.

Mr Huggins has not pleaded to 33 charges alleging he sexually abused seven youths in counselling and assistance programs from 1990-91. The alleged victims were aged 11 to 17.

Yesterday, the prosecution also revealed that Mr Huggins’ past included a WA “conviction” in 1991 for indecently dealing with a teenage boy, for which he was put on two years probation.

The West Australian can now report that Mr Huggins was an education officer with the Department of Community Services at the time and met his victim through that job.

It is understood that at the time, laws meant an offence that resulted in probation could not be deemed a conviction.

The West can also confirm that Mr Huggins continued to work with the government after the incident.

In 2006, he applied for a working with children card and was given an interim negative notice before withdrawing his application.

The Department for Child Protection and Family Support has confirmed that Mr Huggins had been employed by the State since the 1991 probation but not in child-related roles.

Yesterday, Mr Dungey said more charges were expected and that the investigation showed Mr Huggins had “an extraordinarily long run of offending”.

The bail application continues on Tuesday.

A special hotline has been set up for alleged victims to come forward. The number is 1800 552 203.