Man accused of sexually abusing children over decades
A man accused of sexually abusing 30 children over three decades had an arrangement with a child protection agency to house and provide schooling for minors.
South Australian Trevor James Scroop, 65, is alleged to have travelled multiple times to Northern Territory communities to take back children who he then abused.
He was arrested and charged with two child sex offences in 2023.
After an ongoing joint SA and NT police investigation, further charges have been laid totalling 44 sex offences against 30 children from 1989 to 2023.
The charges include sexual abuse of a child, unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent and aggravated indecent assault, aggravated assault and possessing child exploitation material.
Scroop appeared in the SA District Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The lifting of suppression orders means he can now be named.
Scroop, a former ABC cameraman, had access to dozens of mostly Aboriginal boys under an arrangement with SA's Department for Child Protection to house them, the ABC reported.
SA Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Catherine Hilliard told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday it was a "complex and incredibly confronting investigation".
"The man had been providing accommodation and schooling in South Australia for many young people from the Northern Territory over an extended period of time," she said.
"The privacy and safety of the victims remains our number one priority. We have been providing updates, along with support, to everyone effected."
Northern Territory Police Force Assistant Commissioner Michael White said the alleged offending was "abhorrent" and its scale disturbing.
He assured the NT community the alleged offender was in custody and was believed to have acted alone.
The two commissioners urged anyone with further information on the man's alleged offending to contact police as investigations continue.
They said ongoing court suppression orders meant police were restricted in what they could say about the victims and their families.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said anyone who committed those types of crimes should know "we want the full force of the law to be imposed upon them with only the consideration of victims in mind."
Scroop is scheduled to reappear in court in August.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
13YARN 13 92 76
A man accused of sexually abusing 30 children over three decades had an arrangement with a child protection agency to house and provide schooling for minors.
South Australian Trevor James Scroop, 65, is alleged to have travelled multiple times to Northern Territory communities to take back children who he then abused.
He was arrested and charged with two child sex offences in 2023.
After an ongoing joint SA and NT police investigation, further charges have been laid totalling 44 sex offences against 30 children from 1989 to 2023.
The charges include sexual abuse of a child, unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent and aggravated indecent assault, aggravated assault and possessing child exploitation material.
Scroop appeared in the SA District Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The lifting of suppression orders means he can now be named.
Scroop, a former ABC cameraman, had access to dozens of mostly Aboriginal boys under an arrangement with SA's Department for Child Protection to house them, the ABC reported.
SA Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Catherine Hilliard told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday it was a "complex and incredibly confronting investigation".
"The man had been providing accommodation and schooling in South Australia for many young people from the Northern Territory over an extended period of time," she said.
"The privacy and safety of the victims remains our number one priority. We have been providing updates, along with support, to everyone effected."
Northern Territory Police Force Assistant Commissioner Michael White said the alleged offending was "abhorrent" and its scale disturbing.
He assured the NT community the alleged offender was in custody and was believed to have acted alone.
The two commissioners urged anyone with further information on the man's alleged offending to contact police as investigations continue.
They said ongoing court suppression orders meant police were restricted in what they could say about the victims and their families.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said anyone who committed those types of crimes should know "we want the full force of the law to be imposed upon them with only the consideration of victims in mind."
Scroop is scheduled to reappear in court in August.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
13YARN 13 92 76
A man accused of sexually abusing 30 children over three decades had an arrangement with a child protection agency to house and provide schooling for minors.
South Australian Trevor James Scroop, 65, is alleged to have travelled multiple times to Northern Territory communities to take back children who he then abused.
He was arrested and charged with two child sex offences in 2023.
After an ongoing joint SA and NT police investigation, further charges have been laid totalling 44 sex offences against 30 children from 1989 to 2023.
The charges include sexual abuse of a child, unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent and aggravated indecent assault, aggravated assault and possessing child exploitation material.
Scroop appeared in the SA District Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The lifting of suppression orders means he can now be named.
Scroop, a former ABC cameraman, had access to dozens of mostly Aboriginal boys under an arrangement with SA's Department for Child Protection to house them, the ABC reported.
SA Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Catherine Hilliard told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday it was a "complex and incredibly confronting investigation".
"The man had been providing accommodation and schooling in South Australia for many young people from the Northern Territory over an extended period of time," she said.
"The privacy and safety of the victims remains our number one priority. We have been providing updates, along with support, to everyone effected."
Northern Territory Police Force Assistant Commissioner Michael White said the alleged offending was "abhorrent" and its scale disturbing.
He assured the NT community the alleged offender was in custody and was believed to have acted alone.
The two commissioners urged anyone with further information on the man's alleged offending to contact police as investigations continue.
They said ongoing court suppression orders meant police were restricted in what they could say about the victims and their families.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said anyone who committed those types of crimes should know "we want the full force of the law to be imposed upon them with only the consideration of victims in mind."
Scroop is scheduled to reappear in court in August.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
13YARN 13 92 76
A man accused of sexually abusing 30 children over three decades had an arrangement with a child protection agency to house and provide schooling for minors.
South Australian Trevor James Scroop, 65, is alleged to have travelled multiple times to Northern Territory communities to take back children who he then abused.
He was arrested and charged with two child sex offences in 2023.
After an ongoing joint SA and NT police investigation, further charges have been laid totalling 44 sex offences against 30 children from 1989 to 2023.
The charges include sexual abuse of a child, unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent and aggravated indecent assault, aggravated assault and possessing child exploitation material.
Scroop appeared in the SA District Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The lifting of suppression orders means he can now be named.
Scroop, a former ABC cameraman, had access to dozens of mostly Aboriginal boys under an arrangement with SA's Department for Child Protection to house them, the ABC reported.
SA Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Catherine Hilliard told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday it was a "complex and incredibly confronting investigation".
"The man had been providing accommodation and schooling in South Australia for many young people from the Northern Territory over an extended period of time," she said.
"The privacy and safety of the victims remains our number one priority. We have been providing updates, along with support, to everyone effected."
Northern Territory Police Force Assistant Commissioner Michael White said the alleged offending was "abhorrent" and its scale disturbing.
He assured the NT community the alleged offender was in custody and was believed to have acted alone.
The two commissioners urged anyone with further information on the man's alleged offending to contact police as investigations continue.
They said ongoing court suppression orders meant police were restricted in what they could say about the victims and their families.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said anyone who committed those types of crimes should know "we want the full force of the law to be imposed upon them with only the consideration of victims in mind."
Scroop is scheduled to reappear in court in August.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
13YARN 13 92 76
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The offenders had pleaded not guilty to murder, but were found guilty by a jury following a four-week Supreme Court trial. Justice Wright extended the court's sympathy to Mr Hart's family and friends, describing the teenager as a "loving son and grandson" with a "bright future". "His family feels as if their lives have been shattered," the judge said. "It's important to acknowledge that the death of Mr Hart was a personal and human tragedy." The judge factored Walmsley-Hume's difficult upbringing into his sentence, including him being introduced to cannabis at age 9, meth at 12, and heroin by his father at 13. He continued to use drugs until his arrest and had also been punished in custody for possessing illicit substances and weapons. The court accepted he had expressed remorse and attempted to seek assistance for his drug addiction. 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The judge said this threat was of particular significance given the offender "saw an opportunity to act on the desire" to have Mr Hart gone the following month. Justice Wright said Walmsley had participated in some of the feuds involving her son. "Both mother and son were on the lookout for an opportunity to enact the revenge they wanted," the judge said. Walmsley participated in Mr Hart's murder by hanging out the window of the ute to locate him, failing to stop and render aid, and telling her son "we got him good". The offenders had pleaded not guilty to murder, but were found guilty by a jury following a four-week Supreme Court trial. Justice Wright extended the court's sympathy to Mr Hart's family and friends, describing the teenager as a "loving son and grandson" with a "bright future". "His family feels as if their lives have been shattered," the judge said. "It's important to acknowledge that the death of Mr Hart was a personal and human tragedy." The judge factored Walmsley-Hume's difficult upbringing into his sentence, including him being introduced to cannabis at age 9, meth at 12, and heroin by his father at 13. He continued to use drugs until his arrest and had also been punished in custody for possessing illicit substances and weapons. The court accepted he had expressed remorse and attempted to seek assistance for his drug addiction. The judge took into account Walmsley's depressive disorder, epilepsy, and cannabis use disorder, with the court hearing she struggled with heavy drinking after the deaths of several family members. He could not accept she had shown any remorse. Walmsley-Hume will become eligible for release in April 2038, while his mother will become eligible the year prior. Mr Hart's family smiled and held hands as the sentence was handed down.
