Port Douglas couple sentenced for assaulting pedophile in his family home

A Port Douglas duo who attacked a man who was convicted for indecently treating their 12-year-old daughter have been warned about the perils of “vigilante justice”.

The sex offender was left with ‘minor injuries’ the court heard.

Port Douglas Shire duo who attacked a man who was convicted for indecently treating their 12-year-old daughter have been warned about the perils of “vigilante justice” as they were sentenced in the Cairns District Court.

The duo, who were a couple and are now separated, were facing on one count of burglary and common assault related to events that transpired after finding out that a man was back in their hometown in June 2022.

The man, 23, had been charged and was on bail after being caught having ‘skin on skin’ contact with their half-naked daughter.

One of the bail conditions was that he not return to the town.

However, on June 29, 2022, the pair learned that man was in the town and staying at a family member’s house.

The court heard the pair told the local police station, but no apparent action was taken, and the man remained in the town in breach of his bail.

The Cairns Court House building on Sheridan Street. Picture: Brendan Radke

In the early hours of June 30, 2022, they went to the house where he was staying.

The court heard, the man grabbed him by the shirt, the woman pushed him over, and the other man then assaulted him.

The sex offender was left with a ripped shirt and pain in his knee.

The then couple were left with two charges – both of them had prior violent criminal histories; the woman had a previous conviction for punching a 15-year-old girl in the face, causing her to lose several teeth.

In sentencing, Judge Michael Burnett said, “Vigilante defendants cannot take matters into their own hands.”

“If you don’t get satisfaction from your local police station, you go further up the chain.”

He handed them both an 18-month sentence wholly suspended.

The sex offender was convicted in March for indecent treatment of a minor under 16 years in March 2023 and received a six month prison sentence.

Originally published as Port Douglas couple sentenced for assaulting pedophile in his family home