A former Big Bash League cricketer has been denied bail after his arrest before boarding a flight to Perth, with authorities revealing he is facing ‘extremely serious’ child sexual abuse charges in Tasmania.
Aaron William Summers, 28, who previously played as a fast bowler for the Hobart Hurricanes, appeared in Darwin Local Court on Monday after being arrested on Sunday.
The court heard a warrant had been issued for Summers’ arrest relating to a historical complaint in Tasmania, as reported by the NT News.
Tasmania Police confirmed they were extraditing Summers to face charges from 2021 of “penetrative sexual abuse of a child or young person and grooming with intent to expose a person to indecent material”.
Summers had intended to fly to Perth to stay with his parents, but was stopped by authorities.
His lawyer, Richard Bryson, described the circumstances around his arrest as an “unusual matter”, as reported by the Darwin newspaper.
“He is not a flight risk,” Bryson told the court. “I have his passport here ready to surrender.”
Bryson argued his client believed he was clear to travel to Perth following correspondence between the Summers family and various authorities.
Despite having his parents’ support in the courtroom, Judge Steve Ledek denied Summers bail, ordering him to remain in custody.
Detectives from Tasmania Police’s Southern District have travelled to the Northern Territory to escort Summers back to Tasmania, where he is scheduled to face Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Summers will be transferred to Tasmania on April 16.
