Former sports coach jailed for sexual abuse of children

A former sports coach who sexually abused his young nieces for years has faced court as a frail old man on the cusp of death and heard of the horrific impact his actions had on the girls, who are now women.

A former sports coach who sexually abused his young nieces for years has faced court as a frail old man on the cusp of death and heard of the horrific impact his actions had on the girls, who are now women.

An uncle’s depraved abuse of two sisters, including maintaining an illegal sexual relationship with one of them for almost six years, has been exposed in court.

The now elderly man, who can not be named for legal reasons, was initially set to stand trial in Bundaberg District Court, but pleaded guilty at the eleventh hour to charges including one count of maintaining a sexual relationship with a child under 14, one count of indecent treatment of a child under 14, and four counts of sexual assault.

The offences took place between 1982 and 1988, when the man maintained an unlawful sexual relationship with one of his nieces, who was under the age of 14, while also committing indecent assaults against her sister between 1986 and 1987.

A former sports coach who sexually abused his young nieces for years has faced court as a frail old man on the cusp of death and heard of the horrific impact his actions had on the girls, who are now women.

Crown prosecutor Smoothy outlined the disturbing details of the crimes, and explained the man began abusing his youngest niece when she was just seven.
The court heard he would sexually assault her in various locations, including his home, her home, and another residence.
The abuse involved inappropriate touching and forcing her to perform oral sex, often under threats of harm if she told anyone.
The victim was told it would be a secret and that she knew what she “had to do”.
The abuse eventually stopped when she was 12 and moved away.

Mr Smoothy also recounted the abuse suffered by the eldest sister, who had moved in with her uncle due to family troubles.
The abuse began just one week after she moved in, and one incident involved the man covering her mouth with a handkerchief to “muffle her screams”.

In one situation, the abuse only stopped when the man’s wife came home.
The man threatened the eldest sister that if she told anyone, she would have nowhere to live.

Both women provided emotional victim impact statements to the court.
The youngest sister spoke of suffering from PTSD and anxiety as a result of the abuse.
She described how her life had been diverted from her aspirations of becoming an air hostess due to the trauma.
Her uncle had taken away her sense of safety, she said.

“You were supposed to be my uncle, and you took that power.”
“I am no longer that scared little girl. I am a strong woman, you cannot hush me anymore.”
The older sister described herself as a victim of sexual assault by her uncle and stated she would never forgive him for his actions.
“You are a very despicable, horrible person,” she said.
The defence lawyer, Mr Hardcastle, presented a mitigation case for the man, noting his multiple health concerns and suggested his death could occur within 12 months.

He said his client, a former football coach, had a difficult childhood, moving between nine primary schools and experiencing bullying.

He also claimed to have been physically abused by his cousin while working on a farm and had suffered through family tragedies, including the deaths of two sisters who were the victims of domestic violence.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren sentenced the man to nine years in prison, with the sentence suspended after 15 months, subject to an operational probation period of five years.

A conviction was recorded, but no further punishment was imposed.