Out-of-home care manager pleads not guilty to choking, raping colleagues

A former out-of-home care manager has pleaded not guilty to allegedly raping and choking five female colleagues.

Damian Ellis Spohr faces 30 charges relating to five alleged victims between 2020 and 2025, spanning several locations across New South Wales.

Crown prosecutor Adele Banks told Newcastle District Court today that it was an extensive case.

"There is a huge body of evidence of text messages in this case," she said.

Mr Spohr, 30, appeared from the Hunter Correctional Centre via audio-visual link to enter his pleas during an arraignment hearing.

He replied "not guilty, your honour" when each of the 30 charges were read out by Judge Tim Gartelmann.

Alleged choking and rapes

The court heard the alleged offences include multiple counts of sexual intercourse without consent and aggravated sexual assault inflicting actual bodily harm.

A series of sexual touching charges have also been levelled against Mr Spohr, which he denies.

There are also multiple charges of intentionally choke a person with recklessness, and choke a person to commit an indictable offence.

Judge Gartelmann said some of those offences related to "rendering an alleged victim unconscious and incapable of resistance".

Mr Spohr also pleaded not guilty to a charge of intentionally suffocate a colleague without consent.

The offending allegedly happened between 2020 and 2025 at multiple locations.

They include Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands, Tweed Heads in the Northern Rivers region, Greta, Maitland and Rutherford in the Hunter Valley, Raymond Terrace at Port Stephens and Blackalls Park in Lake Macquarie.

Mr Spohr was arrested last year after Port Stephens-Hunter detectives investigated a number of alleged sexual assaults.

At the time of his arrest, Mr Spohr was an out-of-home care manager at a Hunter community services provider.

Defence barrister Zoe Alderton estimated his trial would run five to six weeks, noting provisions needed to be made to prepare for the trial.

"This is self-evidently a voluminous and complex matter," she said.

"I will be asking for some case-management orders that might be in addition to what usually would be provided for."

Judge Gartelmann adjourned the case until November 5 to determine whether the trial could be accommodated in Newcastle as a special fixture or if a change of venue to Sydney was needed.

The judge said apprehended violence orders were in place for all five women.

Mr Spohr remains in custody.