Robert, whose name has been changed to protect his identity, had gone to the police station seeking advice.

But Detective Senior Constable Natascha Neumann, Tash, as she prefers, knew there was more to Robert's story.

The Child Protection and Investigation Unit investigator was watching a recording of the then-20-year-old and his first interactions with police.

"I listened to indicators and watched his body language,” Snr Const Neumann said.

"I could tell he was genuine and he'd been seriously violated against.”

She called Robert back and asked him if he'd like to return to the station and speak with her further.

It was May, 2016.

Snr Const Neumann had worked a day shift when Robert arrived, ready to tell his story.

Over the next 13 hours he spilled a story of horrific suffering.

He'd been raped and abused 1000-2000 times by former NSW policeman and government support worker Manuel Gonzalo Pando Siguas.

The offending had begun when Robert was just eight, when Pando Siguas was linked to the family as a mentor in the Lions Club Aunties and Uncles program in Moreton Bay.

Robert's family moved north to the Coast two years later, but Pando Siguas followed him, and the monster's home at Meridan Plains became Robert's own house of horrors.

"He did not want to stop doing the interview,” Snr Const Neumann said.

"He knew he wasn't being judged and knew he could be raw.

"He was concerned if he didn't come forward, more kids would be offended against. He was trying to protect other kids.”

Pando Siguas had been applying for a job at a school, which meant Snr Const Neumann and the team, including then-Detective Sergeant Dan Purdie, Detective Senior Constable Stacey Marshall and Detective Senior Constable Anthony Green had to move fast.

Four days after Robert had given his statement the team was stationed covertly outside Pando Siguas' Meridan Plains home.

Robert had bravely agreed to wear a wire, to secure recorded confessions from his tormentor police needed to bring him down.

Heart pounding, remembering the knife Pando Siguas kept on the bedside table, Robert secured the confessions and Pando Siguas was arrested.

Pando Siguas was jailed for 16 years in November, 2017, for raping six boys aged four to 15 over two decades, after pleading guilty to 76 charges.

Robert's brother was among the other victims. It was Robert's near-perfect statement which enabled Snr Const Neumann and the team to prepare such a solid brief of evidence.

Another victim who read Robert's story came forward and Pando Siguas was jailed in February for another four years, to be served concurrently with his original prison sentence.

He'll be eligible for parole in March, 2029.

"It was a great team effort,” Snr Const Neumann said.

"Without the victim coming forward and being brave enough to come forward and advise us of his circumstance... we couldn't have done it without him.

"I feel very warm in the heart knowing he (Robert) has been able to move forward in a positive way.”

She said she'd spoken to Robert, now a young dad, only a few days ago and he said he felt he'd been able to close that chapter of his life and could now be a positive role model for other child sex offence victims.

Ex-Detective Sergeant and current Ninderry MP Dan Purdie said the whole team had deserved the recognition they received this week, when they were awarded the Assistant Commissioner's Certificate - Operational, for resourcefulness, intelligence and dedication to duty for their efforts.

He singled out Snr Const Neumann and her efforts to build trust with Robert so quickly, to help him share his story and secure justice.

"There was clearly something a lot more sinister at play and she identified it,” Mr Purdie said.

"That (statement) was really pivotal in uncovering Pando's life of paedophilia.

"It takes a special copper, a special investigator, to get someone to open up like that.”