John Richard Daniel Voronoff jailed for historic child sex abuse

Four brave women “ready for the world to know” a Sunshine Coast man abused them as children have shared emotional victim statements in court. Disturbing content

John Voronoff (pictured here in 1998) was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for historic child sex abuse charges.

Tears were shed as four brave women “ready for the world to know” what horrific abuse they endured as children have fronted a Sunshine Coast court to send the offender behind bars.

Cooloolabin man John Richard Daniel Voronoff, 76, pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore District Court on July 31 to 24 historic child sex abuse charges, including 12 of indecent treatment of children under 12, two of indecent treatment of children under 16 and one of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.

The Sunshine Coast Daily has obtained written consent from the victims to be identified in this article.

There were tears, sobs and hugging in the public gallery where the four now adult-aged victims and their families sat.

Each of the victims were under the age of nine at the time of the offences and two were only three-years-old.

The Sunshine Coast Daily has chosen not to publish details shared in court about the abuse due to its disturbing nature.

Three of the women read out emotional victim impact statements and the fourth was read by crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus.

One said the abuse made her question her self worth and caused abandonment issues.

“I’ve lived most of my life with his actions as a dirty, shameful secret, ” she said.

John Voronoff (pictured here in 1998) was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for historic child sex abuse charges.

“That secrecy no longer has a place. We are ready for the world to know John Voronoff is a serial pedophile.”

Another woman’s statement was a letter she wrote to her younger self.

She said she remembered being a “happy, beautiful and outgoing child”.

“You were bright, adventurous and loving,” she told the court.

“It saddens me to know that for so many years you’ve had to live with such pain, guilt and trauma and I wish you never had to live with the hurt and such distrust for others for the rest of your life.”

She said Voronoff had preyed on her innocence.

His abuse left her unable to trust completely and become comfortable in her own bed, she said.

The third victim said Voronoff emotionally blackmailed her and said her mother would leave her if she told her what happened. She was three-years-old.

This was after Voronoff convinced her she was the reason behind her parent’s separation, she said.

John Voronoff was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison in the Maroochydore District Court. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The abuse led her to believe his actions, bullying and other forms of abuse were normal throughout her life, she said.

She called Voronoff a “constant dark shadow” in her life.

“I know your smell, I know your touch, the feeling of your beard, I remember the coldness in your eyes and your hands … you took my power, you took my control,” she said.

Mr Andronicus read the fourth victim’s statement which said she felt shame her entire life.

The court was told the offences were committed between 1989 and 2002, when Voronoff was between 42 and 56-years-old.

Mr Andronicus said the victims reported it to police in 2021 and Voronoff was arrested and charged in November that year.

He said Voronoff told police he “knew this day would catch up with him” but denied being a predator.

Defence barrister Mark Dixon said his client was a former sugar mill and construction industry worker who had left home at a young age due to witnessing domestic violence.

Mr Dixon said Voronoff was a type two diabetic who had been diagnosed with liver cancer in 2019 and now lived a “solitary existence”.

He said Voronoff was deeply remorseful for his actions.

He said his client had a poor memory and did not remember parts of the offending, but that the victims had no reason to lie.

He had lost all family and connections as a result of the offending, the court was told.

After asking to speak Voronoff stood facing the magistrate, with his back to the public gallery where the victims sat, and apologised.

Judge Ian Dearden sentenced Voronoff to seven and a half years’ jail, with a parole eligibility date of January 21, 2026.