South Australian sex tourist Ruecha Tokputza’s crimes ‘without comparison’ in all of Australian legal history, court told

Child sex tourist Ruecha Tokputza’s crimes have “no comparison” in all of Australian legal history, a court has heard — and deserve the sort of sentence imposed on mass murderers.

Ruecha Tokputza posted photos of the children he abused on his social media accounts. Picture: Facebook.

• Unmasked: SA child sex tourist pleads guilty to 51 offences
• Vile sex tourist ‘not sorry’ for abuse of 13 babies and boys

Child sex tourist Ruecha Tokputza’s crimes have “no comparison” in all of Australian legal history and deserve a sentence longer than any on record, a court has heard.

On Wednesday, the District Court was told Tokputza must receive a penalty even harsher than the 35-year prison term imposed on Families SA predator Shannon McCoole.

Such a punishment would put Tokputza, who offended against children and babies in two countries, in the same sentencing “bracket” as the state’s most infamous mass-murderers.

Double child murderer Dieter Pfennig was jailed for at least 60 years, while triple killers Steven Graham Peet and Jason Alexander Downie received 36-year and 35-year minimum terms, respectively.

Tokputza has shown no remorse for his offending. Picture: Facebook.

Prosecutors say Tokputza’s crimes were “breathtaking” in their seriousness. Picture: Facebook/

Heath Barklay SC, prosecuting, said Tokputza’s case was “out on its own”.

“It’s our submission there is no body of comparison … in particular because of the multifaceted way in which Tokputza has offended,” he said.

“McCoole involved 20 offences with seven victims over 3 ½ years, and he both assisted authorities and wrote a letter of apology.

“Here we have 51 offences and 13 child victims over six years, with no evidence whatsoever of assistance or apology … Tokputza stopped only because he was caught.”

Tokputza, 30, of Mile End, sexually violated 13 babies and boys, some as young as 15 months old, in Australia and Thailand.

He also recorded his crimes — generating 12,500 images and 650 videos of child exploitation material — to encourage fellow predators to copy his conduct.

Three weeks ago, prosecutors called for him to be jailed saying it was “hard to think of more serious offending”, dubbing it “simply breathtaking” in its criminality.

Tokputza’s victims live in both Australia and overseas. Picture: Facebook.

They said Tokputza had given “not one word of remorse or contrition or regret for the offending”, and was so lacking in insight that he claimed his victims “were happy”.

At that time, Judge Liesl Chapman asked to be provided with “comparable cases” from around the country in order to fashion a just sentence.

On Wednesday, Mr Barklay said the search had been fruitless as not even McCoole’s offending could compare.

“When one considers the two cases, this matter is plainly much more serious,” he said.

Craig Caldicott, for Tokputza, agreed there “was no tariff” for his client’s offending but insisted McCoole was “instructive”.

“A sentence should be fashioned in some way that gives him some hope of being released — on strict parole, and only after he’s completed his rehabilitation,” he said.

Judge Chapman remanded Tokputza in custody for sentencing next month.

Follow @SeanFewster