Justin James Crudeli allowed to return to Geraldton’s Rovers Football Club after being hit with sex assault charges

A Geraldton footy club says police told it officers would be at its games to ensure an accused rapist did not within 50m of his alleged victim but on Saturday no officers were spotted at the ground. Well-known junior boxing coach Justin James Crudeli was suspended from Rovers Football Club after he was hit with two counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent charges in July. Last month, the 36-year-old was allowed to return to the club, who his alleged victim also plays for, leading to the young woman lodging a complaint to the police. The teenager told police she became uneasy with Mr Crudeli playing in the game before her. The Rovers suspended Mr Crudeli for two games after he was charged in July but he was allowed to return to the field last month. Saturday was his fourth game since his suspension. Under his bail conditions Mr Crudeli cannot go with 50m of the alleged victim or two witnesses in the case and he is also banned from contacting them. Earlier this week, Rovers Football Club president Clive Edwards said police had told him officers would be present at games for the remainder of the Great Northern Football League season to ensure there was no contact between the pair. But no officers were sighted at the Brigades v Rovers game yesterday. When contacted by The Sunday Times, Geraldton police said they could not comment. There is no suggestion he has breached the bail conditions. Mr Edwards said earlier in the week the club would continue to adhere to the conditions but there was “not a whole lot” the club could do. “We’re just a footy club,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot we can do other than follow the legality of the order. He’s not there when she trains. “We were told by the police there was a copper out there last weekend to make sure he abides to it. The only crossover is at the game where the women’s team plays after the league.” Rovers Football Club was contacted for comment by The Sunday Times yesterday. Last month police prosecutor Paul White told Geraldton Magistrate’s Court the woman made authorities aware Mr Crudeli “made no attempt to leave” while the women’s team — whom the victim is a member of — played its match. His reluctance to leave the ground knowing the victim was also there led to police asking the court to widen his bail condition to him also not going within 50 metres of where she lived, worked or played sport. But that request was denied by the court. Mr Crudeli’s lawyer Malcolm Ayoub previously told the court his client was concerned he would accidentally breach the 50m distance order with the victim and the witnesses. But during his last court appearance Mr Crudeli said if there was an accidental meeting he’d “leave straight away”. The club committee initially banned him from playing football for two weeks, with Mr Edwards saying it would be “best policy was to stand him down and see what the outcome was”. The alleged rapist had been allowed to return to the field on August 26. Mr Crudeli has yet to enter pleas over the alleged attack in Rangeway on July 8, during which the court heard a child had been present at home. The former Golden Gloves national amateur title winner is also not allowed to volunteer or work with children under the age of 18 while on bail. He will next appear in court on November 19 for a committal hearing.