Pedophile begs to be castrated

A CONVICTED pedophile who subjected six boys to months of horrific sexual abuse has asked to be castrated so he no longer feels the urge to attack children.

A CONVICTED pedophile who subjected six boys to months of horrific sexual abuse has asked to be castrated so he no longer feels the urge to attack children.

Ipswich man Peter Zehmeister, 48, was yesterday sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in jail for 34 offences, including multiple counts of sodomy and maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with two children.

He was previously convicted of sexually abusing children in 1995 and 2001. Defence barrister Steve Kissick said his client acknowledged that he was a dangerous sexual predator.

“He says he has uncontrollable sexual urges,” Mr Kissick said.

“He wants to be castrated - in fact he wants the court to make a specific order (that he be castrated).”

Judge Greg Koppenol told Zehmeister that Queensland law did not allow him to make an order for castration, but it is believed the offender plans to explore the possibility of chemical castration while he is behind bars.

Ipswich District Court heard Zehmeister met his victims, aged between 10 and 13 at the time, in November 2006 after one of them distributed flyers stating that they were looking for work.

Zehmeister, then living in Carole Park, asked the 13-year-old to mow his lawn.

The disability pensioner slowly befriended the boy and his parents.

The boy's two young brothers and three friends were eventually allowed to visit him and some spent the night at the house. From then on, until February 2008, the boys were subjected to repeated appalling abuse which The Queensland Times has decided not to detail.

Crown Prosecutor Ron Swanwick said Zehmeister coaxed his victims by showing them pornographic videos.

“There was systematic grooming of these young boys for his sexual gratification,” he said. “It goes without saying these were horrible offences.”

Zehmeister admitted six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 and in care, 15 counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and in care, seven counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16, and two counts of attempting to procure a child.

That was in addition to two counts each of sodomy and maintaining an unlawful relationship.

Victim impact statements submitted to the court showed the victims and their families had been devastated by what had occurred.

The father of three of the victims sat at the back of the court, sobbing uncontrollably as the details of Zehmeister's abuse was read out yesterday.

Judge Koppenol told Zehmeister: “The acts you engaged in with these boys would shock all right thinking members of the community.

“The parents blame themselves for what happened but they should not - they acted as loving and caring parents whose trust was abused in the grossest way.”

Judge Koppenol's orders did not include a recommended parole release date.

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Originally published as Pedophile begs to be castrated