Chris McCann’s descent into disgrace was so swift and complete, he could see no escape from his sudden shame and jumped to his death while visiting a national park in Queensland.
Two weeks ago, the 50-year-old was an anonymous Commonwealth Bank executive living quietly with his wife and two sons at Curl Curl on Sydney‘s northern beaches.
McCann’s world imploded when he was arrested at Sydney Airport and faced Central Local Court on July 9 charged with procuring a child for sex at a Brisbane hotel.
Queensland Police had been investigating McCann for two months and successfully sought his extradition, which saw his alleged crime make national headlines.
He was granted bail at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday to live with a friend in the Gold Coast hinterland, but just two days later McCann was dead.
McCann’s body was found on Wednesday afternoon at Springbrook, a popular spot for bushwalkers to hike through lush rainforest and take photographs from scenic lookouts.
Tourists who were in the vicinity when McCann leapt to his death witnessed police cars and an ambulance speed past them as they made their way back to their holiday homes.
McCann had been the Commonwealth Bank’s head of health and social infrastructure for its major client group in Sydney for the past 11 months.
Chris McCann’s descent into disgrace was so swift and complete, he seemed to see no way back to his former life and jumped to his death in a national park
McCann’s body was found on Wednesday afternoon in Springbrook National Park (above), a popular spot for bushwalkers to hike through lush rainforest and visit scenic lookouts
Before that, he had worked for ANZ and Westpac during a career in corporate finance spanning more than 20 years.
A spokesman for the Commonwealth Bank declined to comment on McCann ‘given the tragic circumstances of this week’, but it was revealed in court on Monday he had been sacked since his arrest.
McCann appeared in Brisbane Arrest Court on Monday charged with one count of using the internet to procure children aged under 16 on a previous trip to the city.
Police alleged McCann used 18-year-old Brisbane sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went to procure two girls aged 14 and 15 while he was in Brisbane on May 15.
Magistrate Louise Shepherd said McCann was accused of asking Went if she had any ‘younger’ friends she worked with and the pair agreed on a price for the two girls to meet him at the Sofitel Hotel.
At the hotel, Went allegedly waited in the lobby while the girls went up to McCann’s room. McCann had not let the girls inside and instead contacted the hotel’s front desk to ask them to leave.
The court heard McCann had no criminal history and would abide by any bail conditions.
A prosecutor opposed bail, citing fears McCann could offend if on bail and the risk to the welfare of the community if he was at his liberty.
Police alleged McCann used 18-year-old Brisbane sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went (above) to procure two girls aged 14 and 15 while he was in Brisbane on May 15.
Until two weeks ago McCann (above) was an anonymous 50-year-old Commonwealth Bank executive living on Sydney ‘s northern beaches at Curl Curl with his wife and two children
‘He lives in NSW,’ the prosecutor said. ‘He is a flight risk. He has financial capacity from his previous employment.’
Magistrate Louise Shepherd said the allegation against McCann was ‘terribly serious’.
‘You travelled interstate frequently,’ Ms Shepherd 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.’
Ms Shepherd also noted McCann would not necessarily serve any time in custody if convicted and granted him bail on strict conditions.
McCann 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.
He was not to travel interstate, had to comply with an evening curfew and abide by restrictions on his use of electronic devices.
Magistrate Louise Shepherd noted on Monday that McCann (above) would not necessarily serve any time in custody if convicted and granted him bail on strict conditions
Throughout the proceedings, McCann looked down or straight ahead.
The court heard Went did not actually have sex with clients but made her money by producing adult content on OnlyFans.
Went, who is also charged with using the internet to procure a child under 16, was granted bail on conditions including that she have no contact with McCann.
McCann and Went’s cases were adjourned until August 4 at the same court.
Following the discovery of McCann’s body on Wednesday, police said they were not treating his death as suspicious.
‘A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday,’ a Queensland Police spokeswoman said.
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