Damien John O’Brien sentenced over child abuse
A 36-year-old Sunshine Coast man convicted of abusing a child in Noosa after brazenly preying on her has learnt his fate in court. Read what happened in court.
Police & Courts
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A Sunshine Coast IT worker charged with several child abuse offences, including indecently treating a 13-year-old girl, will be eligible for parole later this year.
Damien John O’Brien 36 appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Wednesday, June 14 where he pleaded guilty to one charge of rape, one charge of possessing child exploitation material and two charges of indecent treatment of children under 16.
Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks told the court on June 4, 2022 O’Brien started a conversation with a 13-year-old girl at the Big Top Shopping Centre in Maroochydore before driving her to Noosa where he then indecently touched her.
Ms Marks told the court the victim had become separated from her friends and was seated in a stairwell when O’Brien approached her.
“She noticed the defendant was in his car looking over in her direction, he eventually came and joined her at the stairs, he talked to her but she initially ignored him because she felt unsafe,” Ms Marks said.
“He (O’Brien) spoke to her of his sexual history and she became concerned and sent a message to her friend.
“At 8.45pm she ended up in his car, although it is unclear how that came to occur, he drove her toward Noosa and she noticed he had locked the door.”
Ms Marks told the court O’Brien removed the victim’s skirt and underwear before indecently touching her.
Friends of the victim alerted police to the incident after receiving texts from the victim asking for help.
Ms Marks told the court when the car was intercepted in Maroochydore O’Brien told police he was “just a good guy trying to be a good guy”.
Defence barrister Lachlan Ygoa-McKeown told the court O’Brien was on bail for possessing child exploitation material at the time of the offending and had been held in custody since June 24, 2022.
Maroochydore District Court Judge Glen Cash sentenced O’Brien to four years’ imprisonment.
O’Brien has already served 355 days in custody and will be eligible for parole in October.
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