Sterling Free sexually assaulted girl after luring her from North Lakes Kmart

The man who kidnapped a seven-year-old girl from a Brisbane shopping centre before sexually assaulting her has been sentenced to eight years’ jail. But he will eligible for parole much earlier.

THE man who kidnapped a seven-year-old girl from a Brisbane shopping centre before taking her to bushland and sexually assaulting her has been sentenced to eight years’ jail.

Morayfield father of twins, Sterling Free, in July pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to deprivation of liberty, taking a child for immoral purposes and indecent treatment of a child under 12 years.

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Sterling Free to be sentenced over sexual assault of girl, 7, after abducting her from Kmart North Lakes

The 27-year-old, who works as an insulation installer, took the girl from her mother on December 8, 2018.

Free had lured the girl from her mother who was shopping in Kmart at Westfield North Lakes before taking the child to bushland and sexually assaulting her.

Sterling Free abducted a seven-year-old girl from a store at Westfield North Lakes. Picture: Facebook

After the assault, Free dressed the girl before he drove her back to North Lakes and left at a carwash near the shopping centre.

When interviewed by police, Free told detectives when he was driving the girl back to the shopping centre he became worried about how the girl’s mother would react and began to cry.

The little girl asked him if he was OK, he told police.

Footage of Sterling Free leading the little girl out of the shopping centre.

He also told officers he had always had sexual fantasies about young girls and when he saw the seven-year-old girl alone in the store “the urge took over”.

The offending was uncovered when mother of child later saw a scratch on her back after they returned home.

Free was sentenced to eight years’ jail for taking a child for immoral purpose.

He was handed a further two years’ jail for each charge of deprivation of liberty and indecent treatment of a child, which will be served concurrently with the eight year sentence.

Free will be eligible to apply for parole in August 2021.