Warrant issued for Richard O’Neil who sexually abused a child in Port Lincoln

A child told her dad she feared playing in the park after a child sex offender subjected her to sickening crimes. Now her abuser is nowhere to be found.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of child sex offender after he subjected a girl to horrific abuse for over a year.

Richard O’Neil, 39, was due to face sentencing submissions in the Adelaide District Court on Wednesday but his lawyer said they regrettably did not know where he was.

O’Neil, of Port Lincoln, was found guilty in March of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child.

During his trial in the Port Augusta District Court in August, the court heard O’Neil subjected the victim to numerous sexual acts.

The court heard O’Neil abused her on more than five occasions.

The victim eventually confided in her father and was “visibly and deeply upset” when she recounted the abuse.

Richard O’Neil had a warrant issued for his arrest on Wednesday. Picture: iStock.

The victim’s mother confronted O’Neil and he denied touching the victim in any way.

During the trial, Sally Burgess, for O’Neil, told the court O’Neil kissing the victim on the lips which she described as “yuck” led her to dislike him.

She said the kissing may have been blown out of context and led the victim to make the further allegations.

“He (O’Neil) doesn’t even look at a child now, he doesn’t go near anyone and is so hypervigilant about it,” Ms Burgess said.

The court heard before the victim disclosed O’Neil’s offending, she told her father she was scared of paedophiles and was reluctant to play in the park because she was scared of them being there.

In the Adelaide District Court on Wednesday, Ms Burgess said they had made multiple attempts to contact O’Neil.

Jeff Powell, prosecuting, said police had also been actively looking for O’Neil for some time and he wasn’t at his bail address.

“I would have thought that an unemployed, recovering alcoholic with a chronic history of bowel issues and health issues would ultimately be findable,” Judge Timothy Heffernan said.

He issued a warrant for O’Neil’s arrest.