The 53-year-old man cannot be identified for legal reasons and appeared in Inverell Local Court on Thursday morning on eight charges.

It follows his arrest by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Child Sex Abuse Squad at an Inverell office on Wednesday morning.

The man was taken to Inverell Police Station and questioned by detectives. The Tamworth-based officers from the Child Abuse Squad launched an investigation into the historical allegations earlier this year, culminating in the man’s arrest.

The man was subsequently charged with five counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child under authority, two counts of sexual intercourse with person under 10, and attempted sexual intercourse with child under 10.

Police will allege in court the man sexually abused two young girls who were known to him when they were aged between five and nine.

A spokesperson for NSW Police said investigations by detectives were continuing following the arrest.

“A 52-year-old man was arrested and charged at Inverell on Tuesday, 20 June, 2017. He remains before the courts,” the spokesperson said. 

“Following further inquiries, the man, now aged 53, was arrested at an office in Inverell about 9.30am on Wednesday, 27 September.”

The man was denied bail in an out-of-sessions hearing in Inverell Local Court on Wednesday and reappeared in the same court on Thursday morning.

Solicitor Neurelle Lyon made no application for bail during the brief proceedings and it was formally refused by Magistrate Roger Clisdell.

Much of the detail surrounding the charges cannot be reported for legal reasons. Mr Clisdell ordered the 53-year-old to remain in custody until the charges return to court in Moree in October.

The case is expected to be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) because of the serious nature of the charges.

The Child Abuse Squad is made up of specially trained officers who investigate crimes against children including abuse, sexual assaults and neglect.