A former Commonwealth Bank executive accused of grooming underage girls for sex in a Brisbane hotel room has been found dead.
Christopher James McCann, 50, appeared in a Brisbane court on Monday, charged with one count of using the internet to procure children aged under 16 following a two-month investigation.
The Sydney-based bank executive was extradited to Queensland last week following his arrest by NSW Police at Sydney Airport.
McCann was found dead at Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland on Wednesday afternoon – just two days after he was granted bail on strict conditions.
Queensland Police is not treating McCann’s death as suspicious.
‘A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday,’ a spokeswoman said.
McCann described himself online as a corporate finance executive with more than 20 years of experience. He had no prior criminal record.
A court heard on Monday that McCann was accused of a ‘terribly serious offence’ by allegedly engaging Brisbane sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went, 18, to supply the services of two girls aged 14 or 15 while staying at the Sofitel Hotel in the Brisbane CBD in May.
‘You travelled interstate frequently. You formed some kind of connection with (Went). On May 14, police intercepted messages between you and she,’ Magistrate Louise Shephard told McCann.
‘The allegation is you … queried her about whether she had younger friends that she worked with.’
McCann stood in the dock looking either down or straight ahead during his appearance.
Ms Shephard said McCann was accused of making an arrangement and agreeing on a price to use Went’s services alongside two underage girls.
‘Later the evening Went and the girls attended (a Brisbane CBD five-star hotel),’ Ms Shephard said.
‘The two girls went to the room and you contacted the front desk to ask them to leave. It is not alleged the girls entered the room.
‘The matter was referred by NSW Police to Task Force Argos (Queensland Police child exploitation unit) and on July 8 they executed a search warrant on your home.’
A prosecutor opposed bail, citing fears McCann could offend while out on bail and the risk to the welfare of the community.
‘He lives in NSW. He is a flight risk. He has financial capacity from his previous employment,’ the prosecutor said.
McCann’s barrister David Jones said his client’s assets would be frozen.
He added that his client had no prior criminal record and was willing to abide by a range of conditions, including living in Queensland during the court proceedings.
Magistrate Shephard noted that McCann’s employment had been terminated.
She bailed McCann on strict conditions, which included an overnight curfew and being limited to one mobile phone with no encrypted applications.
He was also ordered to remain in Queensland during the court proceedings and banned from having any contact with children except for his sons.
McCann was due to reappear in court on August 4.
Went was also granted bail on Monday to reappear on the same date.
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