Latest news with #ShauntelleWent
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Former bank exec accused of grooming girls found dead
A former Commonwealth Bank executive accused of grooming underage girls for sex has been found dead, days after appearing in court. Christopher James McCann, 50, was charged with one count of using the internet to procure children aged under 16. He appeared in Brisbane Arrest Court on Monday where he was granted bail after being extradited from NSW. Queensland Police confirmed McCann, who was from Sydney suburb Curl Curl, was found dead on Wednesday at his Springbrook bail address in the Gold Coast hinterland. "A report will be prepared for the coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday," it said in a statement. His alleged offending was described on Monday by Magistrate Louise Shephard as "terribly serious". McCann allegedly engaged Brisbane sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went, 18, to supply the services of two girls aged 14 or 15. He was accused of making an arrangement and agreeing on a price to use Went's services alongside two underage girls. Went and the girls allegedly went to a Brisbane CBD five-star hotel, and the teens went to attend the room before he contacted the front desk to ask them to leave. It is not alleged that the girls entered the room, Ms Shephard said on Monday. McCann's employment had been terminated in the wake of the charges, and his assets were frozen. He was granted bail ahead of an August 4 court date on the condition that he had an overnight curfew and was limited to one mobile phone with no encrypted applications. Co-accused Went is next set to appear in court on August 4. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
News.com.au
17-07-2025
- News.com.au
Christopher James McCann, former Commonwealth Bank executive charged with procuring underage girls for sex, dies
A former Commonwealth Bank executive facing charges of trying to procure underage girls for sex has been found dead, police have confirmed. Christopher James McCann was charged with a single count of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act and faced court earlier this week. He was granted bail on Monday to reappear on August 4. In a statement, a Queensland Police spokeswoman said: 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday (Wednesday).' Mr McCann was sacked from his job and had his accounts frozen after his arrest, a court was told on Monday. He sat stony-faced in Brisbane Arrests Court – days after his arrest by NSW detectives at the Sydney Airport terminal – as he applied for bail. Despite magistrate Louise Shepherd acknowledging the seriousness of the charge, Mr McCann's lawyer David Jones KC criticised the police's material in objecting to bail as 'unprofessional' and engaging in 'fortune telling'. Both McCann and his co-accused, 18-year-old Shauntelle Elizabeth Went, walked from Brisbane Watch House on Monday afternoon with strict bail conditions. Mr McCann did not comment to waiting media as he left the building with a bowed head and entered a nearby car. Ms Went was supported by a man, who appeared to clash with one reporter while escorting the 18-year-old from the court precinct. The OnlyFans creator then turned and made a rude hand gesture as she walked off. The pair were facing a single count each of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act. Neither entered any pleas. On Monday, the court was told police alleged Mr McCann – a married father of two who travelled frequently interstate – formed a 'connection' with Ms Went, a sex worker. It is further alleged Mr McCann was organising to use her services while in Brisbane in May but queried if she had any 'younger friends' she worked with. 'You made an arrangement and agreed on a price to use Ms Went's services and that of two underage girls,' Ms Shepherd said in her summary of the police allegations. The teen girls, aged 14 and 15, and Ms Went allegedly attended the Sofitel Hotel, but Ms Shepherd said it was not alleged the girls went up to Mr McCann's room. The court was told Mr McCann was no longer employed by Commonwealth Bank as a result of the charges. His financial accounts had also been frozen by detectives. Police opposed Mr McCann's bail, claiming there was a risk of further offending and general safety to the community. Ms Shepherd granted Mr McCann bail – ordering him to report to police once a week, not to drink or use illicit drugs and be subject to drug testing. He was also ordered to possess only one phone. Ms Went was also granted bail during an application before Ms Shepherd. The court was told Ms Went was receiving a disability support pension and received money through her OnlyFans account, but she did not perform in-person sex work. Both Mr McCann and Ms Went were due to return to court on August 4.
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Daily Mail
High-flying executive at one of Australia's Big Four banks accused of inviting a teenage girl to have sex with him in a hotel room
A once-respected banking executive has been arrested at Sydney airport and accused of trying to have sex with teenage girls in his hotel room. Christopher James McCann, 50, was charged on Tuesday with one count of using electronic communication to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act. McCann, who worked at a Commonwealth Bank in Sydney, allegedly tried to find two teenage girls for sex in a Brisbane hotel, reported. Prosecutors will allege McCann had sought the help of an 18-year-old sex worker he met while in the city in May. The group allegedly met in McCann's hotel before a concerned worker alerted police after becoming suspicious. Following a two-month joint investigation, a warrant for his arrest was granted by a Queensland Court and McCann was promptly arrested at Sydney Airport. The banking executive was then extradited to Brisbane on July 9 before his case was mentioned at Brisbane Arrest Court on Friday. His defence attorney, Evan O'Hanlon-Rose, attempted to secure bail for McCann but this motion was delayed after a second person was accused of the same crime. Shauntelle Went was charged with the same offence and now stands as McCann's co-accused. Police prosecutor Jordan Theed told the court the case was 'unusual' because Mr McCann allegedly used an 18-year-old sex worker to procure a child. Magistrate Julian Noud found it was best to handle both cases together and McCann and Went were both remanded to custody, The Daily Telegraph reported. New South Wales' state crime command's sex crimes squad established Strike Force Coalhurst in March to investigate McCann. It then referred the matter to Queensland Police Service's child exploitation unit Argos after it discovered McCann's attempts to procure a minor. Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty, Commander of the NSW Police Force Sex Crimes Squad, said states are working together kept children safe everywhere. 'Working closely with Queensland Police, we were able to track a suspect who believed interstate travel would allow him to evade detection. He was wrong,' she said. 'These joint efforts demonstrate that our law enforcement capabilities don't stop at state borders. 'If you fly interstate to commit crimes, know that our reach is national.' Cameron Burke, Argos' Detective Acting Inspector, said sexual predators seeking to harm children will not be tolerated anywhere in Australia. 'Argos investigators and police across the country work collaboratively to share information, intelligence and investigative assistance,' he said. 'We are constantly online, working tirelessly to identify and apprehend offenders.' The case has been adjourned until July 14.
