James-Robert Davis: Alleged House of Cadifor sex cult leaders court blow

A former soldier accused of running a “sex cult” in regional NSW where he lived with six polyamorous partners has had a devastating loss in court.

James-Robert Davis appeared in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday to make a second bid for bail this week after he was charged with 40 serious offences related to the alleged cult near Armidale in northern NSW.

He has been in custody for more than 19 months after he was arrested in March 2021.

The ex-Australian Defence Force soldier was originally facing three charges over allegedly keeping a woman in sexual servitude, but the charges were withdrawn six months later.

When Mr Davis appeared earlier this week in the NSW District Court, it was told the nature of the case against him had “completely changed” since his arrest following allegations from additional alleged victims.

The former prison guard is facing 26 charges before the District Court, including sexual intercourse without consent and torturing an animal.

He is also charged with illegally possessing prohibited firearms and ammunition.

The court was told Mr Davis was also facing 14 charges before the Local Court related to the allegations of four women, including multiple counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentionally distributing an intimate image without consent and intimidation.

The Crown told the District Court on Tuesday that Mr Davis referred to himself as the patriarch of the House of Cadifor, a property in northern NSW where he lived with his six polyamorous partners.

The court was told a documentarian followed Mr Davis around and filmed his life at the property with his permission.

Mr Davis’ lawyer Gemma Ridley told both the District and Local Court this week that her client had been unable to view the extensive brief of evidence due to “ongoing access issues”.

The court was told he was under protective custody because of his former role as a prison guard, and he had only been able to access the prison computer for three to four hours a week.

“It’s critical that he be able to access the evidence,” she argued.

Mr Davis had been unable to provide detailed instructions to his lawyers or to properly assess the “vast” amount of evidence in order to defend his case, Ms Ridley told both courts.

She told the court that if granted bail, her client would submit to house arrest and wear an ankle monitor that would notify a corrections officer of a breach in 20 seconds.

He would also agree not to contact any of the complainants or witnesses in the case.

District Court Acting Judge Michael Allen noted Davis’ “previous relationships with people who have made the allegations could give rise to interference with witnesses”.

During both the District and Local Court bail hearings, the Crown prosecutor argued Mr Davis would be likely to flee due to the “serious nature of the charges” and the likelihood of a custodial sentence if he was found guilty.

Ms Ridley disagreed, stating that the proposed “bail conditions would protect the community and ameliorate the risks”.

While Judge Allen granted Mr Davis strict conditional bail on some charges on Tuesday, the decision came down to magistrate Emma Manea in the Local Court on Thursday.

Having heard similar submissions to her District Court counterpart – that Mr Davis had strong community ties, no criminal record and no convicted history – she denied his bail.

Judge Allen said on Tuesday while a significant full-time sentence was inevitable if Mr David was convicted, he was of the opinion the applicant “established the balance of special and extraneous circumstances”.

“I am of the view, having regard to the stringent nature of conditions which will include an electronic monitor, the bail concerns can be met and appropriately ameliorated, so he does not remain an unacceptable risk to the community,” he said.

But on Thursday, Ms Manea said given the “serious nature” of the offending, she had concerns about the strength of the case and Mr Davis’ flight risk.

“There are no conditions that can ameliorate bail concerns,” she ruled, refusing bail.

Mr Davis will return to court later this month.

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