A former high-ranking St John Ambulance officer has been convicted of child sex charges related to two underage volunteer cadets. Daniel Patrick Symons was found guilty on Friday of nine of 11 charges, including having unlawful sexual intercourse with one of the girls and inducing both to expose their bodies. His trial heard how the 29-year-old engaged in lewd conversations with the girls on Facebook and encouraged them to send him indecent images on Snapchat. District Court judge Stephen McEwen handed down his verdicts after a judge alone trial, ruling that Symons was in a position of authority over the two cadets. Judge McEwen said evidence of the conversations was “overwhelming” and he found Symons was motivated by sexual gratification. Symons will face a sentencing hearing in October.
