Fraser Coast man sentenced for indecent treatment

A Fraser Coast father who sexually abused his son confessed his crimes to a neighbour and later told police what he had done, a court has heard.

A court had heard a man sexually abused his young son.

A Fraser Coast father who sexually abused his young son later confessed his crimes to a neighbour and then to police.

The 38-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty in Maryborough District Court to four counts of indecent treatment of a child.

The court heard the offending had happened when the boy was aged between 7 to 9 and he was one of three children the man shared with his former wife, with the two having a shared parenting arrangement after their marriage ended.

One night when the two were laying on a mattress on the floor, the man asked his son to scratch his back, the court heard.

What followed was the man touching the boy's genitals and asking the boy to perform oral sex on him, but the boy refused and said he needed to go to the toilet.

Later that night, the man apologised to his son and blamed the consumption of drugs for his behaviour.

In May 2021, the man told a neighbour he had done “bad things” with his children, the court was told.

The neighbour contacted the police and the man’s former wife, the court heard, but the children denied any inappropriate conduct by him.

But the man persisted with his confessions and in March 2022, he went to a police station and admitted to abusing one of his kids.

The children’s mother was contacted but the man then “lost his resolve” and denied the offending, the court heard.

The man’s son was interviewed by police, and it was then the offending was confirmed.

Judge Carl Heaton said it was the man’s responsibility to care for his son and it was a significant breach of trust.

He said offending of that nature could have a profound effect on young lives.

Judge Heaton said the man had worked as a labourer and he had developed an addiction to ice and speed, which had at time resulted in homelessness.

He had previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

The man no longer had contact with his children, the court heard.

While in custody the stability and routine had been of benefit to him and he had been free of drugs, Judge Heaton said.

The man was planning upon his release to get his life back in order, he said.

Judge Heaton gave the man a head sentence of three years in prison and ordered that he be eligible for parole after spending 12 months in prison.

The time he had spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served, and the man would become eligible for parole from August 23, 2024.

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