Harold James Climas jailed for unlawful sexual intercourse

A 73-year-old man who stole a child’s innocence is now behind bars after he preyed on her during a sleepover before trying to buy her silence.

A child sex offender with “no remorse” has been locked up after he abused a girl at a sleepover.

Harold James Climas, 73, was jailed for five years in the District Court on Tuesday after he opportunistically preyed on the young child.

During sentencing, the court heard the victim stayed overnight at Climas’ house in 2017.

The two watched movies before eventually retiring to separate rooms.

“She woke in the middle of the night to get a glass of water,” Judge Heath Barklay said.

Harold James Climas during his arrest for sexually assaulting a child. Picture: Supplied

“When she returned to her bed … you were there.”

The court heard Climas told her he wanted some company before indecently assaulting her.

Climas then tried several times to penetrate her but was unsuccessful.

“The next day you told her not to tell anyone about what you’d done to her,” Judge Barklay said.

“You then took her to Kmart to purchase her a gift.”

Climas was found guilty of one count of aggravated indecent assault, unlawful sexual intercourse and attempted unlawful sexual intercourse in the Mount Gambier District Court.

Climas’ victim, who was just 10 when she was abused, bravely called him out in April via a victim impact statement.

“You will not have a say in how my future goes – you will not control the person I want to be,” she said.

The girl is currently battling to overcome her extreme trauma, telling the court she felt like she’s “been put into a sinkhole that (she) cannot climb out of”.

“I don’t know if my mum could have ever prevented this but I know that she tried her best to protect me. She has not failed me. You’re the one that has,” the girl said.

The court heard Climas was previously a “highly regarded” SES volunteer and his children remained supportive of him.

During sentencing submissions last month, Climas’ counsel told the court he didn’t accept the verdict and had no remorse.

Judge Barklay sentenced Climas to five years jail, with a non-parole period of three years.

“You took her innocence, you broke her trust,” he said.

The sentence was backdated to October 28, 2022.