Legal error allows successful appeal for woman convicted of organising child prostitutes

A WOMAN who organised child prostitutes for five years has had her sentence reduced.

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A WOMAN who ran a stable of child prostitutes for five years has had her sentence reduced.

Queensland’s highest court today granted Corrina Ann Crabb’s appeal against the sentence imposed by an Ipswich District Court judge a year ago and substituted it with one of nine years.

Crabb, 33, was jailed after pleading guilty in October to 73 charges relating to the grooming, prostituting and supplying drugs to five vulnerable young girls, then aged between 14 and 15.

Crabb used the internet and telephone services as well as her own Facebook page to advertise the girl’s sexual services and arrange paid sexual encounters with prospective clients.

A district court judge in January sentenced the madam to 11 years’ jail, but Crabb appealed the sentence on the grounds the judge erred by imposing a sentence higher the maximum allowed under Queensland law.

The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision, agreed with Crabb — reducing her sentence by two years and ordering she be eligible to apply for parole on November 24 this year.

Justice Ann Lyons, in her written judgment, said: “The initial single ground of appeal was that the sentence was manifestly excessive in all of the circumstances.’’

“Leave was granted to add (the) further ground ... that the sentence was imposed without jurisdiction because (Crabb) was imprisoned to 11 years imprisonment ... when the maximum penalty available was (far less).

“There is no doubt that there was such an error.’’

Court of Appeal President Margaret McMurdo, in her decision, noted the Crown had argued the sentence not be interfered with based on the extremely serious nature of the offences.

“(The Crown) understandably emphasised that (Crabb’s) offending involved procuring over prolonged periods five vulnerable teenagers for prostitution involving unprotected sexual intercourse,’’ Justice McMurdo said.

“It was fortunate that none (of the girls) contracted a sexually transmitted disease and unsurprising that one became pregnant (to a client).

“(Crabb) also provided the young women with alcohol and drugs.’’

Justice McMurdo said the seriousness of the offending of such “immature, troubled young women’’ warranted a substantial head sentence in the order of nine years jail.

Justice’s Lyons and Robert Gotterson agreed.

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