Ipswich prison guard jailed for historic relationship with 12-year-old girl over 20 years ago

A woman has given a powerful statement in court, outlining the devastating impacts of having her “virginity stolen through trauma,” as the man responsible – now working as a prison guard – was jailed for the crime more than 20 years later.

A woman has given a powerful statement in court, outlining the devastating impacts of having her “virginity stolen through trauma,” as the man responsible – now working as a prison guard – was jailed for the crime more than 20 years later. Generic image.

An Ipswich region prison guard has served a series of powerful words from his victim as he was jailed after a jury found him guilty of maintaining a sexual relationship with a pre-teen girl more than 20 years ago.

His victim gave a moving statement in Ipswich District Court at his sentence on February 21, holding him accountable for the “ongoing nightmares” he had caused her.

“I sat in the court last week and watched you sit there looking forlorn and feeling sad for yourself as I described the most traumatic events that happened in my life,” the woman told the court, looking up directly at the man as she spoke.

“My impression was that you were feeling quite hard-done by, but then I saw you outside of the courtroom laughing and joking with your legal counsel.

“I maintained hope that your arrogant nonchalant behaviour would come to a conclusion, and I hope this verdict does just that.

“Because while you look sad to be here, I think you are exactly where you should be.”

The man, in his 40s who cannot be named to protect his victim, pleaded not guilty at trial last week to maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child, eight counts of rape, and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 16 (by film).

A jury found him not guilty of six counts of rape and the indecent treatment charge.

They found him guilty, however, of the maintaining an unlawful relationship charge, and were left undecided on the remaining two rape charges.

Crown prosecutor Hamish McIntyre told the court at the man’s sentencing on February 21, that the Crown would not proceed on the remaining rape charges, only the maintaining an unlawful relationship charge.

The court heard the man had openly been the “boyfriend” of an underage girl for a number of years in the early 2000s.

The girl had been aged 12 to 14 at the time, while the man was aged 21 to 24.

Judge Dennis Lynch noted the “unusual” feature that the girl’s mother was aware of the relationship, and had seemingly approved of it.

Defence barrister Scott Neaves said the jury had not found his client guilty of any specific charge relating to any carnal knowledge or penetrative acts.

Judge Lynch said it was clear the jury were not convinced there had been non-consensual interactions between the two that would amount to rape.

But he said he accepted there had been consensual sexual interactions between the man and the child, as part of the relationship, although it was “impossible” to know how many.

The victim explained how the relationship had had an ongoing impact on her throughout her life.

“I don’t think you’d acknowledged the gravity of your actions on a deeper level yet,” she told the man.

“You did it knowingly, repeatedly and for an extended period of time … Then you went on with your life like nothing ever happened; I did not.

“I knew it was wrong then, but I didn’t have the strength of character until my late twenties to speak about it.

“I was a child. I was a little girl, but little girls don’t stay little forever.”

“I don’t want to be another statistic, another woman that doesn’t get her story told.

“Because of your crimes I have experienced anxiety and panic attacks … I’ve required years of intense psychotherapy and exposure therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy and schema therapy, just to function.”

The woman said she had felt “terror and fear” when she was with the man, and struggled with her confidence when he told her he was “no longer attracted to (her) because (her) body was changing”.

“You must have known it was wrong,” she said.

“My virginity was stolen through trauma, and I live with that memory forever.”

The woman described her experience going to trial as “humiliating” and “embarrassing,” which she said could have been avoided if he had pleaded guilty.

“I really think you thought you could get away with what you did,” she said.

“For every moment that you feel sorry for yourself, I want you to remember that I have lived with this trauma for my entire adulthood.”

The court heard the man had no convictions in the time since this offending, and had maintained steady employment.

Judge Lynch said this suggested his young age at the time contributed to his offending, and that he had likely been rehabilitated since then.

He sentenced the man to five years imprisonment, which will be suspended for an operational period of five years after he serves two years in actual custody.