Man convicted by Bundaberg court after confessing to molesting young stepdaughter

The guilt became all too much for a man after he confessed to his bishop sickening acts he committed on his young stepdaughter, but he’s walked free from court. Here’s why.

He was in a trusted position, he’d raised children of his own and the young girl in his care loved him enough to call him “daddy”.

Guilt got the better of a man when he confessed to his bishop that he had indecently treated his young stepdaughter.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in the Bundaberg District Court to two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, under 12 and under care.

The incidents happened in their Biloela home while the girl’s mother, his former wife, was overseas in 2018.

During the first incident the girl was sitting on the man’s lap, when he moved her underwear to the side and touched her.

The second happened in the man’s bed while the young girl was sleeping next to him.

The man moved her on top of him so she was laying with her back to his stomach, his genitalia was erect and he rubbed it against her private area.

The court heard there was no penetration.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, confessed to committing the offences which happened while the girl’s mother was overseas.

The man put her back to bed, where she remained asleep, while he went to the bathroom to relieve himself.

The man later confessed to what he had done to his bishop, before confessing to police in October last year.

Crown prosecutor Steven Dickson briefly summarised a victim impact statement from the girl’s mother in court.

The statement told of how the girl’s mother barely slept at night and now had trouble trusting other people.

It also told of the concerns she had for her daughter’s mental health as she got older, even though she did not have any recollection of what happened.

The statement said the young girl still asked if the man missed them and that perhaps a hug from her could make him feel better.

Mr Dickson submitted to the court the incidents were a “very serious example” of the offending because there was skin on skin contact and they weren’t isolated.

He said while the offence was serious, he accepted the fact the man confessed of his own accord was a mitigating factor.

The court heard by law the man must serve time in custody unless there were exceptional circumstances.

Barrister Kate Juhasz told the court her client expressed genuine remorse and that he had started getting rehabilitation.

Ms Juhasz said her client had also made a full confession without any complaint being made against him.

She said the man had been seeing a psychotherapist as well as his GP.

The court heard during the man’s rehabilitation it had been identified that he had a sexual impulsion disorder.

The court heard the man was also not an Australian citizen and had been living in the country for a number of years on a visa.

Ms Juhasz said time in actual custody would see his visa cancelled and him deported back to his home country, which would interrupt his rehabilitation.

She submitted that exceptional circumstances had been proven and keeping the man in the community would allow him to continue with his rehabilitation.

Judge Ken Barlow took into account the man’s plea of guilty when considering his sentence.

He also took into account the fact that the offences came to light after his confession.

The maximum sentence for the offences was 20 years imprisonment.

“Any man, particularly a mature man, who takes advantage of a young girl is committing an offence that is one of the worst offences the community considers sexual offences to be,” Judge Barlow said.

“It is very rare that someone confesses to an offence no one else knows about.”

Judge Barlow took into account a report that said the man had “deep insight” into his condition, but said the protection of the community in the future was “high in mind”.

He accepted time in custody and the flow on effects it would bring would interrupting his rehabilitation.

The man was sentenced to 12 months jail, which was wholly suspended for three years.

He was placed on three years probation.

By legislation the man is also a reportable offender for the next five years.