Bailey stays quiet on sex charges

A FORMER Grafton school principal facing a string of sex charges made his first appearance at Grafton Local Court yesterday.

Frank Bailey, 43, was dishevelled and downcast as he was led to the dock by Corrective Services officers.

Wearing regulation green shorts and shirt, Bailey sat silent and shaking in the dock, not once raising his head to meet stares from the public gallery.

With unkempt hair and a bandage around his wrist, Bailey's appearance was markedly different from his former days as the well-groomed principal of St Andrew's Christian College.

He was in court to answer one count of aggravated sexual assault and four counts of sexual intercourse with a person under his care.

The charges were laid in May after a three-month investigation by the Coffs Harbour Child Protection Unit.

Bailey initially faced court in Sydney where he was living, but the charges were transferred to Grafton Local Court in July.

Bailey has been in police custody since May. According to his solicitor Thomas Ferrick, Bailey is voluntarily undergoing mental health treatment in jail.

The charges were adjourned yesterday to allow time for a complete brief to be served.

Magistrate Kim Pogson said Bailey would have to enter a plea at his next court appearance on December 1.

Bailey was employed as principal of St Andrew's Christian College at the start of 2005 and resigned late last year.