A veteran Victoria Police protective services officer accused of child abuse offences has been refused bail after allegedly buying a secret laptop and using it to visit pornography and childcare websites.
Riccardo “Rick” Rossi, 68, from Frankston North, is facing 17 charges, including allegations that he repeatedly sexually assaulted a two-year-old child and produced, sent and possessed child abuse material.
Police allege the offending occurred between January 2024 and May this year, when Rossi was arrested following an internal investigation by Victoria Police’s Professional Standards Command.
Alleged bail breach
The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard Rossi was granted bail with strict conditions governing his internet use and requiring him to tell his bail officer about devices in his possession.
But prosecutors alleged he secretly bought a laptop on June 26 and used it to access several pornography websites, including one offering webcam-enabled content. The device was also allegedly used to visit childcare websites and sites aimed at children.
Detectives arrested Rossi on July 29 over the alleged breach. He has remained in custody while police examined the laptop and his mobile phone for evidence of further offending.
Commonwealth prosecutor Miriam Kelly urged Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano to revoke bail, describing the case against Rossi as “overwhelming”.
Ms Kelly told the court police had seized material that allegedly showed Rossi abusing the toddler. She said the seven possession charges each carried a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
“If convicted, he will service a lengthy term of imprisonment,” she said.
Police raise VPN concerns
Detective Sergeant Colin Grist, from the Sexual Offences and Family Violence Unit within Professional Standards Command, said he had “significant” concerns about Rossi’s conduct.
The court heard Rossi had used a virtual private network, or VPN, which can obscure a user’s online activity. Detective Sergeant Grist said the accused had made “deliberate attempts” to breach his bail conditions.
“He had very strict and clear bail conditions, and his position as a long-serving member of Victoria Police should have given him the foresight and knowledge of how to abide by those conditions,” he said.
Police analysis of the laptop did not identify access to child abuse material, although investigators said its use of a VPN meant that possibility could not be completely ruled out.
More than 8,000 child abuse files were allegedly found on Rossi’s devices after his initial arrest, the court was told.
Rossi’s daughter and son-in-law, who is a serving Victoria Police officer, supported his application for bail. They offered a $5,000 surety and promised to live with him and monitor his conduct.
Magistrate Caltabiano rejected the application. He fined Rossi $1,000 for the bail breach but did not record a conviction, taking into account his age and lack of previous convictions.
“I’m not imposing a prison term – which I had contemplated and would have in other circumstances,” the magistrate said.
Rossi was suspended without pay after his arrest. Victoria Police has previously said the alleged offences occurred while he was off duty.
