Victims speak out against Bronte John Ciracovitch, former SA child care worker who confessed to multiple sex abuse crimes

The parents of this childcare centre pedophile’s victims have bravely confronted him in court, saying there is no forgiveness for the nightmare he has made of their lives.

Child abuse is every parent’s worst nightmare – but for the families of Bronte John Ciracovitch’s victims, that nightmare is their everyday reality.

They relied upon Ciracovitch, a childcare worker, to look after their sons while they worked full time to create a better life for them.

Their trust in Ciracovitch was so great that, when their children disclosed his abuse, they questioned the boys – a choice that, they told the District Court on Wednesday, haunts them.

“I never, in a million years, thought something like this would ever happen to us … you think and you tell yourself your children are safe and being looked after,” one mother said.

“Unfortunately, in these circumstances, this was far from the truth … I feel I did not protect my son from the monster I was unknowingly subjecting him to, daily.

Bronte John Ciracovitch. Picture: Facebook.

“Watching and hearing the news bulletins about child abuse is a parent’s worst nightmare – but this is our worst nightmare (and) it continues.”

Ciracovitch, 30, has pleaded guilty to multiple child-abuse and child-exploitation charges committed while he was employed by Child Care Services Australia.

Some of the offending took place at one of its northern-suburbs centres, prompting authorities to send letters to 180 families.

Ciracovitch faces a maximum 15-year prison term for his crimes, which include abusing a four-year-old boy while being filmed on a mobile phone.

Ciracovitch faces a maximum 15-year prison term. Picture: Facebook.

In sentencing submissions on Wednesday, the father of one of the victims said he and his wife had separated and their family life had “crumbled” due to Ciracovitch’s crimes.

“Bronte, you took my son’s trusting nature and used it to benefit your own sick fantasies … that’s one of the lowest acts I can think of,” he said.

“You have changed our lives and our family forever … I never forgive or forget.”

The mother of another victim said she felt Ciracovitch had “targeted” them because she was “a single mother with no support”.

She said Ciracovitch had preyed upon children “too young to have a voice”.

“Underestimating our strength is your biggest mistake … you knew about all the things we had already endured, and you were wrong if you thought that made us weak,” she said.

“I will never understand how you looked at yourself in the mirror with such vanity.”

Judge Timothy Heffernan remanded Ciracovitch in custody for further sentencing submissions next month.