Burnett region man guilty of molesting teenage girls

A former car salesman has been found guilty of molesting two young girls, including his own granddaughter.

A former car salesman has been found guilty of molesting two teenage girls, including his own granddaughter, in what has been described by a judge as “opportunistic, predatory and brazen” behaviour. Picture: iStock

A former car salesman has been found guilty of molesting two young girls, including his own granddaughter, in what has been described by a judge as “opportunistic, predatory and brazen” behaviour.

Published court documents reveal the man, who was aged in his 70s at the time of the offending and cannot be named, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 while in his care, and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 12 who was his own descendant, following a trial.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren’s remarks from the man’s December 2024 sentencing at Kingaroy District Court say on one occasion the older of the two victims was playing with a dog when the man asked her to sit on his lap.

When she did, he touched her genitalia and squeezed her breasts under her pyjamas, the court heard.

A second offence against the same girl was witnessed by his wife.

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A former car salesman has been found guilty of molesting two teenage girls, including his own granddaughter, in what has been described by a judge as “opportunistic, predatory and brazen” behaviour. Picture: iStock

The court heard this happened again while the girl was crouched over patting the dog on the bed.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren said the man was “crouched behind her, pressing up against her” with his arms “wrapped around her underneath her jacket”.

His wife could see him “holding (her) up with your arms and pulling her into your crotch” while she was “trying to pull away”.

The final count, against his own family member, happened while she was sleeping over.

The court heard she was watching television on the couch when he touched her on her genitalia through her clothes.

Judge Rosengren said the man’s decision to go to trial was his right, but he “cannot claim in mitigation that you have demonstrated any remorse or insight because you have not”.

She said his offending was “opportunistic, predatory and brazen” and was a “significant breach of trust” against children, including his own granddaughter.

Judge Rosengren sentenced the man to 18 months’ jail, to be suspended after nine months.