A 13-year-old boy has allegedly been sexually assaulted in the front yard of his home by a man he met online.

NSW Police say the pair connected on a social media application in late September when they shared images, personal details and arranged to meet in person.

But when the boy deleted the app on Friday, the man allegedly went to his home, pushed him to the ground in the front yard and sexually assaulted him, reports 9 news.

The teen’s mother rushed to help him, and the alleged attacker ran to his vehicle and drove away.

The boy was taken to hospital for examination.

Two days later, a 40-year-old Kellyville Ridge man was arrested and charged with having sexual intercourse without consent.

He faced a Parramatta court where he was granted conditional bail ahead of his next mention at Penrith Local Court on Thursday.

During a bail hearing at Parramatta Bail Court on Monday he was allowed to walk free on strict conditions.

Bail was continued at Thursday’s hearing before Magistrate Correy at Penrith Local Court.

The matter is due to reappear before Blacktown Local Court on December 13.

Police issue warning to parents

The case has alarmed police who are warning parents about online safety, especially during the NSW school holidays when children tend to have more access to the internet.

They’re recommending parents monitor the time children spend online and that they keep devices in a room accessible by the whole family, rather than a personal bedroom.

Parents should be able to access and randomly check their child’s email and social media accounts and can check the family phone bill for unusual outgoing calls, police say.

“Spend time talking to your child about the dangers associated with online conversations, particularly when communicating with someone that they have only ever met online,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Safe internet use – tips for parents:
• Be aware of how much time your child spends on the internet.
• Spend time talking to your child about the dangers associated with online conversations, particularly when communicating with someone that they have only ever met online.
• Spend time exploring the internet with your children and let them teach you about their favourite websites and applications.
• Keep computers or internet-enabled devices in a room the whole family can access, not in your child’s bedroom; monitor internet access on those devices.
• Consider installing filtering and/or computer blocking software provided by your internet service provider.
• Ensure you are able to access your child’s email and social media accounts and randomly check the contents.
• Check your phone bill for unusual outgoing calls and consider using ‘caller ID’ to identify incoming calls.
• Consult your telephone company for options designed to ensure privacy and security.
• Enquire with your child’s school, public library, and places they frequent to find out what internet safety measures they have in place.
• Information on internet safety is available on the NSW Police website at: http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/safety_and_prevention/safe_and_secure/online_safety

Tips for children:
• Do not send a picture of yourself to anyone you don’t know and never place a full profile and picture anywhere on the internet.
• Never give out your personal information, including full name, home address, phone number or school, over the internet.
• Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone that you have only ever chatted with on the internet.
• Tell your parents or another adult you know of any contact that makes you feel uncomfortable.
• Think carefully before uploading or sending images or videos to people over the internet. Once you press ‘send’ it’s definite and final – you can’t get it back or take it down.
• Information on youth issues, including online safety is available on the NSW Police website at:
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/safety_and_prevention/safe_and_secure/young_people

More information and educational packages for parents and children are available from ThinkUKnow, a multi-agency program designed to educate and promote cyber safety: https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/

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