Convicted pedophile Vivian Frederick Deboo eligible for parole from March 9 but his victims call for him to stay in jail

A monster is on the cusp of walking free from prison and his victims have slammed the serial abuser’s request to go home early before his full sentence is up.

The notorious serial pedophile whose case changed state law – and made public heroes of his anonymous, masked victims – will be eligible for release from prison next week.

On March 9, Vivian Frederick Deboo will complete his non-parole period for the persistent sexual abuse of two boys known as the Masked Brothers.

The Advertiser can reveal Deboo, who has been in custody since his bail was cancelled on November 1, 2018, filed his application for parole in late 2023.

It will now be considered by the Parole Board – and the brothers want the South Australian public aware that the man who deceived and abused them could be back on the streets.

One of the brothers, known as B, urged the board to reject Deboo’s bid for freedom and leave him to serve all of his six-year, seven-month sentence behind bars.

Vivian Frederick Deboo is confronted by B, right, and his supporters outside court in November 2018. Picture: David Mariuz

“The Board looks upon a guilty plea as a significant factor for an early release,” B said.

“But Deboo used every legal avenue available to delay the process and try to exhaust us … it wasn’t the guilty plea of a remorseful man ready to admit his wrongs and face the music.

“It was the actions of an evil and desperate man – for that, he gets a reduced sentence and now a pat on the back from the Board?

“Deboo didn’t release us early, not as little kids when he sexually abused us, and not as adults when we first asked him to admit his guilt to a court.

“He should see out his full term in jail.”

THE MASKED BROTHERS STAND UP

B drew national attention to the case by walking alongside Vivian Frederick Deboo, centre, and his wife Margaret outside court in November 2018. Picture: Supplied

Deboo, 78, was a caterer and church leader when he sexually assaulted boys including the brothers in the 1990s, falsely claiming their own parents had sanctioned the abuse.

Decades later, B and his brother, A, reported the abuse to police after each man had separate, unexpected encounters with Deboo and decided enough was enough.

“My brother was at his kid’s school Christmas concert and he was looking at the crowd and Deboo was standing there staring at him,” B said.

“My brother confronted him but Deboo sniggered at him, told him he couldn’t prove anything … there was an altercation and police were called.

“Then, I was at my local Mitre 10 and went around an aisle and walked straight into Deboo … I almost had a fit.

“My heart was racing a million miles an hour, I walked into a pile of brooms.

“In the end, my brother and I didn’t want to (accept) the fact that Deboo had never faced true justice for what he did.”

When Deboo first attended court, in November 2018, B donned a mask for the first time and walked alongside him and his wife, drawing attention to the case.

“I am a victim, my sentence is for life, pedophiles never get a life sentence,” B’s sign read.

His unique protest, which was featured on the front page of The Advertiser, galvanised public support for the brothers and focused attention on Deboo.

MONSTER’S CROSSING

It was the first of several peaceful public protests staged by B and A, including erecting a “monster’s crossing” at the front of the District Court.

Deboo had to walk a fake children’s safety crossing to enter court, surrounded by the brothers and their supporters – who also donned masks in solidarity.

It was Deboo’s last moment in public, as his bail was cancelled that same day.

The brothers’ tireless efforts went on to earn the support of rock and roll legends Bon Jovi, who dedicated a song to them during their Adelaide concert.

Deboo argued his offending warranted only a home detention sentence, which was staunchly opposed by prosecutors and the brothers.

The District Court agreed with them, jailing Deboo for more than six years and declared him ineligible for parole until March 2024.

Undeterred, Deboo challenged that sentence in the Court of Appeal insisting he should be allowed to serve his punishment at home.

He failed in that bid and, following further protests by the brothers, state legislation was overhauled to ban sex offenders from any sentence except immediate jail.

THE ONGOING BATTLE FOR SEX ABUSE SURVIVORS

B, left, and his brother A, right, after Deboo’s appeal bid failed in July 2019. Picture: Sam Wundke

The brothers continued to campaign for sex abuse survivors after Deboo’s sentencing and were recipients of The Advertiser’s Pride of Australia Award in 2019.

This week, B said Deboo’s victims had no respite from his crimes, so he deserved none from the consequences of his actions.

“The sexual abuse of children isn’t scuffing up a cricket ball with sandpaper … you just can’t move on from the horrors these monsters dish out,” he said.

“Deboo gave us a life sentence, we can never heal our wounds yet, even before his full sentence is up, he is asking to go home early.

“You can’t tell me even one of the people reading this would want Deboo anywhere near their home, let alone anywhere near their children.”