Craig Warner’s appeal against 24-year jail sentence dismissed for sexually abusing six boys for over a decade

A man who secretly abused six boys for a decade across both Whyalla and Adelaide has had his final plea for leniency brutally shut down.

A pedophile who robbed many boys of their childhood under the guise of a “trusted neighbour” will retain his two-decade jail term.

Craig Anthony Warner’s pleas to the Court of Appeal to see light at the end of the tunnel were rejected, saying he had plenty of chances to stop his “deeply depraved” sexual abuse.

Warner was jailed for 24 years, with a non-parole period of 19 years and two months by Judge Timothy Heffernan in December 2021.

John Lyons, for Warner, told the Court of Appeal he believed Judge Heffernan’s sentence gave no weight to his genuine remorse and previous “good character”.

“There should be some room for some light at the end of the tunnel, some room for him to think it worthwhile to rehabilitate himself,” he said.

Craig Warner’s appeal against 24-year jail sentence dismissed for sexually abusing six boys for over a decade. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Lyons said Warner, 42, was “hot wired” from an early age into the behaviour and lived a “sad and tragic” life because of his own sexuality.

Martin Hinton KC, for the prosecution, disagreed and said Warner’s prior good character shouldn’t be taken into consideration, considering he committed the offending under the guise of a “trusted neighbour”.

During Warner’s sentencing, the court heard the first two victims were brothers who would hang out at Warner’s house and play computer games.

Warner performed fellatio and other sexual acts on them, with his abuse spanning over four years in Adelaide.

Warner then moved to Whyalla in 2011 and abused two more boys, with one victim saying it was “so repetitive and frequent” he could not recall how many occasions there were.

The fifth and sixth victim who Warner abused also lived in Whyalla.

The court previously heard multiple victim impact statements, including from one of the Whyalla victims, who was only nine when the abuse started.

“Having to endure his sick, twisted needs, all in an attempt to fulfil his pleasures, is something I would not wish upon my worst enemy,” the victim said.

“A young, bright boy who had their entire world in front of him was robbed of his childhood and instead was gifted lifelong trauma.”

Warner, of Parafield Gardens, pleaded guilty to five counts of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and indecent assault.

During sentencing, Judge Heffernan said Warner had groomed his victims in a “cunning and a very deliberate way”.

“For a period of about a decade you maintained secrecy, manipulation and deception,” he said.

“You carefully cultivated the persona of being a loyal friend, a cheerful and helpful neighbour and someone who could be trusted around young boys.

“That was a sham.”

In their decision, Chief Justice Chris Kourakis and Justices Mark Livesey and Samuel Doyle said while Warner’s sentence was heavy, it was not manifestly excessive.

“The offending against each of these children (other than one) lasted multiple years, and began when the children were very young,” they said.

“(Warner) had countless opportunities to reflect upon, and desist from, his sexual offending.

“However, rather than doing so, he continued to offend, and to do so against

additional victims.

“By doing so, he caused significant and ongoing trauma to each of the victims and their families.”

Warner’s appeal was dismissed.