The alleged rapist of a 14-year-old boy can be revealed as a former Sydney private school principal and a celebrated organist who mentored young musicians at churches across the state.
Alan James Caradus, 70, is accused of raping the boy at Echo Point Park by the Roseville Bridge in 2023, and inciting the boy to perform a sex act on him, in what detectives believe was their first in-person meeting after first making contact on a dating app.
He has been behind bars since heavily armed tactical police raided his Killara home on October 22. Several electronic devices inside the property were seized in the raid, which occurred almost 12 months after detectives began their investigation.
Caradus appeared via video at Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday morning speaking only to confirm his identity to the court, sitting through much of the hearing with his head in his hands.
The court heard that Caradus, who suffers from a string of health conditions including Type 2 Diabetes and ADHD, was taken to Auburn Hospital four days after his arrest following a “chest pain episode”.
Caradus, through his lawyers, proposed to live under house arrest at his Killara property with his wife, who volunteered to accompany him on his regular medical appointments and to court. He also nominated to live with his brother, who also resides in Killara.
However, bail was rejected after the judge found his medical conditions could be appropriately managed while in custody. Caradus is expected to be transferred to a maximum security facility, ahead of his next court appearance in December.
Caradus began his career at The King’s School , Tudor House in 1979 and taught English, music and history for 12 years in the Southern Highlands, where he bought property with his wife.
He joined Sydney Grammar as deputy principal of its St Ives Prep School in 1992, spending more than 10 years at the selective private school before starting as head of Pittwater House’s junior school in 2003.
Caradus was at the Collaroy co-ed school for three years before moving to Balmain’s Inner City Montessori School, where he served as principal from January 2007 to April 2009. He ended his career at Cranbrook, working on a contract as junior school deputy headmaster that lasted until December 2009.
No formal complaints by students, parents or staff against Caradus were made to The King’s School, Sydney Grammar, Montessori or Cranbrook, the schools confirmed to this masthead.
Pittwater House didn’t address questions about Caradus’ employment. “We are mindful that there is an ongoing police investigation and the matter is before the court, therefore do not propose to comment further on the matter.”
Caradus gave greater time to the church after he retired from teaching in 2010. As a celebrated organist and former student of the NSW State Conservatorium of Music, he regularly tuned organs at churches across Sydney and mentored school-aged organists.
He regularly attended music recitals at churches across Sydney, including at St Andrew’s Cathedral and St Paul’s College at Sydney University, at which he would support school-aged organists under his tutelage.
Caradus worked as the organist at St Alban’s Church Lindfield before his arrest, and also supported musical performances at other Anglican churches in Sydney’s northern suburbs. He played a senior role at St Alban’s, including the selection of hymns for services and the music for weddings.
St Alban’s didn’t respond to this masthead’s multiple requests for comment before publication.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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