Latest news with #Christopher James McCann
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Teenage mum-of-two accused of recruiting underage girls for twisted bank boss reveals the astonishing sum she made in just 48 hours - as fresh details emerge about 'money row' at hotel room, before he later killed himself
The teenager allegedly behind a banking executive's underage sex charge - which triggered his suicide 48 hours later - bragged about making '$16,000 in two days'. Mother-of-two Shauntelle Went, 18, is accused of bringing the young girls to the Brisbane hotel room of high-flying Commonwealth Bank boss Christopher James McCann, 50, in May. When he opened the door, McCann changed his mind after a row over the price, and phoned the hotel's reception to demand the girls be removed. NSW Police swooped on the married father-of-two, from Curl Curl on Sydney 's northern beaches, as he arrived at Sydney Airport and extradited him to Queensland. On Monday, he was charged with one count of using the internet to procure children under 16, before he was granted bail to live with a friend on the Gold Coast. On Wednesday, he drove to a beauty spot at Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland, where he plunged to his death. Queensland Police confirmed his death is not being treated as suspicious, with a report being prepared for the Coroner. On Monday, Brisbane Magistrates Court had heard McCann made arrangements with Went and agreed a price for her to bring her the two girls, aged 14 and 15. But the deal turned sour when she allegedly sent the young girls to the door of his room at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane's CBD while she remained in the lobby. After McCann queried the price, he then asked hotel staff to escort all three off the premises, the court was told. Went, who proudly promotes her sex services on social media, regularly posts teasing videos and encourages potential clients to 'ask for my prices'. Shortly after the incident which led to the charges against McCann, Went boasted on TikTok in June: 'Made like $16,000 in, like, two days.' She also shared a series of screenshots of instant bank transfers into her account to substantiate her income boasts. In another clip, the teenager taunts trolls who attacked her looks in a series of videos filmed on her sofa. 'I love how it's all you broke f***s saying she is ugly when I post about my OnlyFans,' she blasted. 'Stay mad. Stay jealous.' On Wednesday, Christopher James McCann drove to a beauty spot at Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland, where he plunged to his death The court heard on Monday that McCann was accused of committing a 'terribly serious offence' by engaging the Brisbane teen to allegedly supply the young teens. 'You travelled interstate frequently,' Magistrate Louise Shephard told McCann. 'You formed some kind of connection with (Went). On May 14, police intercepted messages between you and her. 'The allegation is you... queried her about whether she had younger friends that she worked with.' McCann reportedly stood in the dock looking either down or straight ahead throughout the hearing. 'Later that evening, Went and the girls attended (the five-star Brisbane CBD hotel),' Magistrate Shephard continued. 'The two girls went to the room, and you contacted the front desk to ask them to leave. It is not alleged the girls entered the room.' The matter was referred by NSW Police to Task Force Argos, Queensland's child exploitation unit, and on July 8, a search warrant was executed at McCann's Sydney home. Christopher James McCann was also prohibited from having any contact with children, except for his own sons, and was required to stay with his friend in Queensland A prosecutor opposed bail, citing concerns McCann could reoffend and posed a risk to the community. McCann's barrister David Jones said his client's assets would be frozen, and that he had no prior criminal record. He told the court McCann was prepared to abide by strict conditions and remain in Queensland for the duration of proceedings. Magistrate Shephard noted McCann had been sacked by Commonwealth Bank in the wake of the charges. He was granted strict conditional bail, including an overnight curfew, a ban on encrypted messaging apps, and permission to use only one mobile phone. He was also prohibited from having any contact with children, except for his own sons, and was required to stay with his friend in Queensland. On Wednesday though, he drove from his friend's home to the beauty spot where he fell to his death. Went was also granted bail on Monday and is scheduled to return to court on August 4. If you or someone you know needs confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- News.com.au
Former CBA executive Christopher James McCann's final days after child procurement charge
A fortnight ago, Christopher James McCann was living a life of relative anonymity in Curl Curl. The married father-of-two travelled frequently interstate as the head of health and social infrastructure at Commonwealth Bank in Sydney — a position he'd held for the past 11 months. Behind the scenes, however, NSW Police officers and State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad had established Strike Force Coalhurst in March to investigate the 50-year-old over his alleged attempts to procure teenage girls for sex at his Brisbane hotel room. The matter had been referred to the Queensland Police Service's child exploitation unit, Taskforce Argos. The months-long investigation by both police services culminated in Mr McCann's arrest at Sydney Airport and extradition to Queensland on July 10. On Monday, Mr McCann was charged with a single count of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act at Brisbane Arrests Court, where he was granted bail to reappear on August 4. Forty-eight hours later, his body was found at Springbrook National Park, a popular tourist and bushwalking spot on the Gold Coast. Shocked tourists witnessed police cars and an ambulance speed past them as they made their way back to their holiday homes. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday (Wednesday),' a Queensland Police spokesperson said. On Monday, the court was told police alleged Mr McCann – who had worked in corporate finance, including at ANZ and Westpac, for more than two decades – had formed a 'connection' with his co-accused, sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went. It is further alleged Mr McCann was organising to use the 18-year-old's services while in Brisbane in May but queried if she had any 'younger friends' she worked with. 'You made an arrangement and agreed on a price to use Ms Went's services and that of two underage girls,' magistrate Louise Shepherd said in her summary of the police allegations. The teen girls, aged 14 and 15, and Ms Went allegedly attended the Sofitel Hotel, but Ms Shepherd said it was not alleged the girls went up to Mr McCann's room. The court was told Mr McCann was no longer employed by Commonwealth Bank as a result of the charges. His financial accounts had also been frozen by detectives. Police opposed Mr McCann's bail, claiming there was a risk of further offending and general safety to the community Ms Shepherd also said Mr McCann would not necessarily serve any time in custody if convicted and granted him bail on strict conditions. He had to live with a university lecturer friend near Mudgeeraba, about 20km north-east of Springbrook and not have contact with children except his own sons. Mr McCann's lawyer David Jones KC took issue with affidavits filed by the arresting officer that he said engaged in 'speculation' and were lacking in objectivity. He also pointed to an affidavit prepared by a clinical psychologist who did not even assess his client. Mr Jones said the police material was speculative and engaging in 'fortune telling', telling the court his client was not in a show-cause position and therefore had a prima facie case for bail being granted. 'What would ordinarily be against an applicant, they have flipped,' Mr Jones said. 'So the fact he's 50 years old with no criminal history, doesn't use drugs, doesn't drink – ordinarily for everybody else, that would be a benefit, but for him, that's a disadvantage.' Ms Shepherd granted Mr McCann bail – ordering him to report to police once a week, not to drink or use illicit drugs and be subject to drug testing. He was also ordered to possess only one phone. Ms Went was also granted bail during an application before Ms Shepherd. The court was told Ms Went was receiving a disability support pension and received money through her OnlyFans account, but she did not perform in-person sex work. Both Mr McCann and Ms Went had been due to return to court on August 4.
