Murray John Miller jailed for 16 years after ‘horrifying’ abuse of young girl in country town

The young drone pilot and feral cat shooter from country SA videoed his sexual abuse of a girl and then shared it with other pedophiles.

A man from an SA country town who sexually abused a child while videoing it - then sharing it online alongside “horrifying” conversations - has been jailed for more than ten years.

During sentencing, Judge Geraldine Davison said Murray John Miller’s offending was “despicable” and “horrifying” – and may have since been shared to other offenders.

“You have not only violated this child, you have now created a situation where your behaviour towards her can be viewed by others who have an interest in this kind of material,” Judge Davison said.

Judge Davison, who presided in Adelaide via video link from Mount Gambier, said the 25-year-old was fully aware he was doing the wrong thing – but he also admitted he didn’t want to lose the evidence of his evil crimes.

Murray John Miller has been jailed for his “horrifying” abuse of a girl in a country town. charged. Picture: 7NEWS Adelaide

“When you were interviewed you made admissions of sending an online user videos of you sexually abusing the complainant,” Her Honour said.

“You said you sent this material as you did not want this material to be ‘gone’ forever.”

The court heard during the transmission of the abuse material, Miller made “explicit, horrifying and degrading statements” about further abuse he wanted to perpetuate.

Miller, an accredited drone pilot and feral cat shooter who “dreamt” of joining the military, previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexually abusing a child, two counts of producing child exploitation material, two counts of disseminating child exploitation material, one count of possessing child exploitation material and once count of obtaining access to child exploitation material.

During sentencing submissions, the victim’s mother told the court no words could “truly capture” the “depths of pain and betrayal that you have caused”.

Judge Davison said despite no psychological report being tendered during the sentencing process, she saw no reason to not sentence Miller as a pedophile.

“You agreed that you were attracted to children, in particular girls aged between five and 12 years old,” Her Honour said.

The court heard the 25-year-old had written a letter of apology to the victim and her family.

“It was said that you hate yourself, not only for what you did, but for speaking about your (victim) in the way that you did, it was said that these statements were not based on reality.

“The submission was made that you said those things to ingratiate yourself to those that you were speaking to.

“That may be so, but the very fact that you spoke in such a despicable and obscene way is a cause for significant concern.”

The court heard little was said to mitigate the offending, but Her Honour took into account Miller’s young age, and his early guilty pleas.

Judge Davison sentenced Miller to 16 years’ jail, with a non-parole period of 12 years, nine months and 18 days.

It was backdated to his arrest by South Australian police and extradition from New South Wales on July 5, 2024.

He will be eligible for release at the earliest in April 2037.