Townsville HROMU: Twice convicted child rapist hit with Supreme Court supervision order

A violent, twice convicted child rapist whose behaviour in the Townsville community has alarmed authorities has been placed under a new court-ordered supervision order.

The Townsville Correctional Centre has a High Risk Offender Management Unit (HROMU). Picture: Evan Morgan

A violent, twice convicted child rapist whose behaviour in the Townsville community has alarmed authorities has been placed under a new court-ordered supervision order.

The Supreme Court ruled that the man, 45, who can only be identified as YZY, remains a “serious danger to the community in the absence of a further supervision order”.

The ruling, which follows an application by the Attorney-General for Queensland against YZY, also provides a rare glimpse inside Townsville’s notorious High Risk Offender Management Unit (HROMU).

According to the ruling, the Indigenous man violently raped girls aged 15 and 14 a month apart when he was 19 in a Far North community known as ‘AZ’.

The judge at the time of the sentencing in 1999, noted that the man viewed the 15-year old as his property and described the second rape as “cruel, callous and committed in demeaning, revolting circumstances”.

YZY was sentenced to 15 years in jail for both rapes and other crimes.

Townsville Correctional Centre. A cell block housing male prisoners. Picture: Evan Morgan

The ruling said that after his release in Townsville, the man repeatedly contravened a strict supervision order and was returned to prison for a number of reasons, including continued drug abuse and concerns he would harm his new partner.

“As a result of the various contraventions, the respondent was returned to custody on six different occasions for a total period of 250 days,” the ruling notes.

The existing supervision order ends on March 12.

According to the ruling, HROMU psychologist Tracy Richards testified that she had conducted 70 sessions with YZY since December 2022 and believed his risk of committing further sex crimes had been reduced.

“There is no current evidence of deviant sexual interests, and he demonstrates the growing capacity to engage in prosocial behaviours,” she said.

“I recommend continuing with the current treatment plan, with a focus on community transition preparation.”

The Townsville Correctional Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

In court, HROMU acting manager Emma Wildermoth said there was potential for YZY to continue his treatment under Ms Richards “and might eventually have visits to AZ to strengthen his ties with his family and reconnect with the community”.

Queensland Corrective Services confirmed that it had received a request from YZY’s legal team to investigate whether or not the man’s brother’s address in AZ was a suitable location but had not been able to contact local authorities, or determine whether his victims still lived there.

A psychiatrist completed a Crown Law risk assessment, having interviewed YZY in 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2019.

He testified that YZY, who intended to continue living in Townsville upon his release, suffered from antisocial personality disorder and alcohol and marijuana abuse, although both were in remission.

“There were no features to suggest that he had a paraphilia such as sexual sadism or paedophilia.”

He assessed YZY’s risk of sexual offending as moderate to average.

“I think there are community risks in AZ, but if Ms Richards can maintain her therapeutic relationship … that does reduce the risk to some extent … it would be very hard to say to what extent”.

The Townsville Correctional Centre. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Dr Beech, appointed by the court to conduct psychiatric risk assessments, said a supervision order would “substantially reduce the risk, simply by restricting his movements, substance use and contacts”.

The court, in imposing the new supervision order, ruled that it was “satisfied that the respondent is a serious danger to the community”.

The final form of the order is yet to be determined.

Originally published as Townsville HROMU: Twice convicted child rapist hit with Supreme Court supervision order