Brian Peter Hepburn, arrested as part of Operation Uniform Kalahari, sentenced in Cairns District Court

A man arrested as part of a police sting involving 30 alleged victims and 12 offenders injected a 16-year-old girl with drugs and made sexual advances towards her, the Cairns Supreme Court heard.

A man arrested as part of a Cairns Police Child Protection and Investigation Unit sting involving 30 alleged victims and 12 offenders injected a 16-year-old girl with methylamphetamine and made sexual advances towards her, the Cairns Supreme Court heard.

Brian Peter Hepburn, 73, who has been in custody since his arrest 365 days ago, pleaded guilty to counts of unlawful wounding, four counts of supplying a dangerous drug to a child under 16 and indecent treatment of a child under 16.

The court heard the 16-year-old girl was a “transient” who stayed at a unit complex with another man.

Brian Peter Hepburn appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning. Picture: Facebook

Prosecutor Christian Peters said the unlawful wounding related to Hepburn injecting the girl and the supply dangerous drug charges related to him pushing the syringe down.

The indecent treatment charge arose from his comment after injecting her that he grabbed her hips and made sexual advances toward her, which she rejected.

He also got her to inject him, saying afterwards “I wouldn’t mind you”.

“I understand she was part of police operation which was investigating more broadly the supply of dangerous drugs to youths in Cairns area and particularly at that unit complex,” Mr Peters said.

Defence barrister Rachelle Logan said Hepburn’s health had suffered in jail and his hearing aids had been stolen.

She said he started using ice after the death of his wife and the death of his son, and had overcome lung cancer and heart issues.

The girl had already been injected with ice by another man.

Ms Logan said Hepburn had the support of his daughter and intended to move to Rockhampton to live with her.

Brian Peter Hepburn, 73, pleaded guilty to injecting a 16-year-old with ice. Picture: File photo

Justice James Henry took a dubious view of the unlawful wounding charges, saying it was “a rather artificial division of things”.

“Combining the charge of wounding with the needle going in and supply with pressing down to inject the substance is utterly artificial in any common sense view,” he said.

“I don’t propose to sentence you for wounding … not punish you twice for the same act.”

The girl went to police on June 7 last year and more than one man has been arrested in relation to alleged offences against her.

“It appears her motivation to go to police was likely in response to additional offending by another man, but included an account of your offending as well,” Justice Henry said.

He handed down a three year head sentence with parole eligibility from June 21, but noted Hepburn was on remand for other matters.

Operation Uniform Kalahari was established last January to investigate the alleged grooming and exploitation of vulnerable young people in the Cairns area.

Police allege young girls were groomed, indecently assaulted, and supplied with dangerous drugs.

Originally published as Brian Peter Hepburn, arrested as part of Operation Uniform Kalahari, sentenced in Cairns District Court