Geoffrey Croft was ordered into custody in an out-of-sessions bail hearing in Armidale Local Court on Thursday morning – 24 hours after his arrest by Armidale detectives.

Investigators allege the 69-year-old abused a boy and a girl in separate incidents in the 1970s in the New England.

The investigation was first launched by police in December, 2012, and culminated in Wednesday’s arrest.

“Police will allege in court that the accused was supervising the children when the offences occurred, but the incidents are alleged to have occurred at different times and they are not related,” New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told Fairfax Media on Thursday.

“It is alleged the accused indecently assaulted a young boy when he was approximately 12-years-old in the 1970s.

“Detectives also allege the accused assaulted a 16-year-old girl in the 1970s.”

Croft was arrested in Dumaresq St in Armidale on Wednesday morning and taken to Armidale Police Station where he was questioned and charged with two counts of indecent assault on a male, one count of assaulting a female and committing an act of indecency on a child over 16 and one charge of rape.

He was not required to enter pleas during the bail hearing.

The serious nature of the charges triggered a show cause hearing where Croft was required to demonstrate why his detention in custody was not justified.

A solicitor for Croft provided a list of submissions but the court found Croft had not shown cause.

He was remanded into custody until next week.

Detective Inspector Joy said police investigate any complaint of sexual and indecent abuse, regardless of when it occurred.

“We investigate any report and we will continue to put matters before the court, where that is achievable and where the evidence is available,” Detective Inspector Joy said.