LIST: Queensland sex offenders and their upcoming parole dates revealed
Opportunistic attacks and years of exploitation … these vile crimes span the state. See the faces of the Queensland sex offenders who are due to return to the community soon.
Police & Courts
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These Queensland sex offenders left multiple communities traumatised and victims scarred for life, but their time behind bars may soon be coming to an end.
Their crimes span multiple cities and decades, ranging from years of repeated sexual exploitation to disturbing one-off attacks.
Some individuals were granted the certainty of release on a suspended sentence or fixed parole release date.
Others will still have to make applications to the parole board once they reach their eligibility dates – which can be a lengthy and restrictive process.
Read the names and remember the faces of the Queensland sex offenders who might be returning to the community in the next year:
PATRICK MCINERNEY – OCTOBER 2023
A Central Queensland woman woke in the middle of the night to see a complete stranger sexually abusing her.
Patrick John McInerney fronted the Emerald District Court earlier this year for the shocking crime.
He had entered the woman’s Woorabinda residence through the window around 3am in June, 2022, and found the woman asleep on the couch.
The court heard the woman screamed and shouted as she woke to him touching her privates over her clothing.
McInerney had responded “don’t worry sister, I’m going out the back now” and left.
He pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and sexual assault in May, 2023, and was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment.
With 295 days in presentence custody declared time served, McInerney will be eligible to apply for parole on October 1 this year.
BAYDEN BYRON – OCTOBER 2023
Bundaberg dad Bayden Edward Byron was jailed in April for sexual offences he committed against a child.
The 38-year-old sent a number of text messages to a girl under the age of 16, asking her to provide photos of her body.
The Bundaberg District Court heard his messages to the girl included: “you have an absolutely stunning body baby girl” and “I don’t want to have sex with you, I want to make love to you”.
The texting followed three in person meetings, during which Byron hugged, kissed, and touched the girl while telling her that he wanted her to be his girlfriend.
The court heard Byron had been abusing alcohol at the time, and the offending had followed the breakdown of his marriage.
Byron pleaded guilty to indecent treatment of children under 16 and using a carriage service to procure a person under the age of 16 years for sexual activity.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years after he has served six months behind bars.
After he is released from custody, he will start a two year probation order.
JEBSON HERROD – OCTOBER 2023
Former Gympie dentist Jebson Herrod received a seven year jail sentence in April 2021 for series of sadistic assaults in 2015.
The Brisbane District Court heard how Herrod had tied a woman to a bed, broken her jaw, and smeared faeces and blood into her mouth until she vomited.
Herrod had then beaten her unconscious and smiled when she woke up, telling her he thought he had killed her.
The woman told the court there was “no doubt” in her mind she would be “dead by sunrise”.
“When I was sexually assaulted and tasted the faeces and blood that had been rubbed across my teeth I was in so much shock that I wished I was dead,” she said.
Herrod pleaded guilty to 22 offences including sexual assault, indecent assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.
He will be eligible to apply for parole this October.
DAMIEN O’BRIEN – OCTOBER 2023
Sunshine Coast IT worker Damien John O’Brien will eligible to apply for parole in October for a number of child sex offences.
The Maroochydore District Court heard O’Brien had approached a 13-year-old girl at Big Top Shopping Centre in June, 2022.
He started talking to her about his sexual history, and she felt unsafe and texted her friend.
O’Brien drove the girl to Noosa that evening and indecently touched her, while the girl’s friends grew worried and called the police.
When police intercepted O’Brien, he told them he was “just a good guy trying to be a good guy”.
O’Brien had been on bail at the time for possessing child exploitation material.
He pleaded guilty to that offence, along with rape and two charges of indecent treatment of children under 16.
He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, with 355 days of pre-sentence custody declared time-served.
GARY FORD – OCTOBER 2023
North Queensland grandfather Gary Craig Ford was convicted by a jury in March 2022 of raping a vulnerable 11-year-old girl.
The Townsville Supreme Court court Ford had supplied the young girl marijuana and showed her pornography on his phone.
He then touched her and raped her in a bathroom.
After a two-day trial, a jury convicted Ford of rape, supplying drugs to a minor, exposing a child to an indecent film and indecent treatment of a child.
He was sentenced to four years imprisonment, but will be eligible to apply for parole this October.
STEPHEN KOSTER – NOVEMBER 2023
A former Queensland teacher was jailed last year for repeatedly sexually assaulting a young boy.
Stephen Frederick Koster pleaded guilty at age 70 to maintaining a sexual relationship with a child, sexual assault and multiple counts of indecent treatment of children.
The Brisbane District Court heard the victim was aged between eight and 16 at the time.
Koster had offered the boy money on occasion and asked him if he had ever seen a man ejaculate.
He was sentenced to four and a half years’ jail, which would be suspended after he has served 15 months behind bars.
DYLAN BUCKINGHAM – MARCH 2024
This Morayfield mechanic will be eligible for parole next March after he has served three years behind bars for raping a young girl.
Dylan Barry Phillip Buckingham was found guilty of the “vile and despicable” crime by a Brisbane District Court jury in March 2021.
The court heard Buckingham had repeatedly sexually abused an 11-year-old girl over a six-month period in 2016 and 2017.
The jury found Buckingham guilty of three counts of rape, maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child and four counts of indecent treatment of a child.
He was sentenced to six and a half years jail.
YASPATHU NAMOK – MARCH 2024
Yaspathu Peter Namok was just 18 years old when he raped a sleeping woman.
He pleaded guilty to the crime a year later and was sentenced to five and a half years jail.
The Southport District Court heard the woman had confronted Namok after waking and he responded “I thought you wanted to have sex”.
Namok had been “extremely intoxicated” and had no recollection of the rape, the court heard.
“I just want to take this moment to apologise to my brothers, my twin, my uncle, my sisters and to the victim,” he told the court.
Namok will be eligible for parole on March 18 next year.
KEITH WARD – MARCH 2024
This Maryborough man Keith Lance Ward was jailed in March for driving a teenager into a bushland and sexually assaulting her.
The Maryborough District Court heard Ward had digitally raped the girl and forced her to perform oral sex.
The assault continued when Ward drove them to his home, but he stopped when his son approached.
Ward pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 16.
He was sentenced to three years in prison and 18 months probation.
The jail term would be suspended for four years after he served 12 months in custody.
JAMES BAKE – APRIL 2024
Owner of Enlighten Massage parlour James Warra Bake was convicted by a jury earlier this year of sexually assaulting two patients.
The Brisbane District Court heard Bake had offered his distressed victims free massages following the assaults.
Bake denied all allegations throughout the trial in the face of his two victim’s emotional testimonies.
One of the victims told the court: “You cannot escape the truth. You know what happened … and you will live with that truth always.
“You violated my body, but you did not break me or my fighting spirit.”
A jury found Bake guilty of two counts of sexual assault – but not guilty of rape.
Bake was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment and will be eligible to apply for parole on April 2 next year.
SHAO-WEI WU – APRIL 2024
Former Essential Massage masseur Shao-wei Wu was jailed earlier this year for raping and sexually assaulting a client.
The Rockhampton District Court heard Wu had believed the woman been flirting with him when she asked if he had a girlfriend.
Wu had also photographed the genitalia of two other women, the court heard.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault, one of rape, and two counts of observations or recordings in breach of privacy.
He was sentenced to three years prison, suspended after he serves 14 months in custody.
His 18 days of presentence custody were declared time-served.
WILFRED GEORGETOWN – MAY 2024
Murgon resident Wilfred George Craig Georgetown was sentenced to six years imprisonment earlier this year for raping a child.
Having spent 453 days in presentence custody, he will be eligible to apply for parole on May 22 next year.
The Kingaroy District Court heard Georgetown had touched the girl over her clothing when she was 14.
She tried to run, but Georgetown grabbed her and raped her.
A jury found Georgetown guilty of two counts of rape, along with indecent treatment of a child under 16 with carnal knowledge.
BERTRAM PENMAN – MAY 2024
Bertram Penman was 77 when he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for raping a young girl.
The Maroochydore District Court heard the former roofing businessman had offended between the ages of 66 and 69.
His victim read her victim impact statement out in court at Penman’s sentence last October, aged 15 at the time.
“I felt so physically disgusted with my body … some nights when I would shower I would scrub so hard on my skin until it was read raw, I just wanted the feeling of dirtiness and disgust to leave,” she said.
“Although I might not be able to give back that sweet little girl her innocence and childhood at least I can give her the justice she deserves.”
Penman pleaded guilty to six counts of rape and four counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12.
His sentence will be suspended for five years after he serves 19 months in custody.
DENNIS OROLA – JUNE 2024
Brisbane sonographer Dennis Paterno Orola used his position of power to sexually abuse vulnerable patients.
The court heard the offences were committed against ultrasound patients at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
“It was in each case a gross breach of trust,” Judge Tony Moynihan KC said.
“It was a persistent and consistent course of conduct and the victims were vulnerable in the circumstances.”
Orola pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and one count of rape in February this year.
He was sentenced to four years imprisonment, which will be suspended after he serves 16 months behind bars.
MICHAEL RICHARDSON – JULY 2024
Central Queensland man Michael Kenneth Richardson was sentenced to seven years jail earlier this year.
He pleaded guilty to raping a 14-year-old girl at a party in Biloela.
The Rockhampton District Court heard the victim had been drinking and smoking marijuana and felt sick.
An unknown man had sexual intercourse with her, before Richardson grabbed her and started grinding on her.
Richardson told her “don’t tell your mum I have done this” and raped her.
Having served 415 days in presentence custody, Richardson will be eligible to apply for parole on July 7, 2024.
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