Paul Norman Jacobsen pleads guilty to failing to comply with reporting obligations

A Sunshine Coast hinterland man who is waiting for his fiance to fly to Australia from the Philippines has been found to have been in contact with the child of one of his mates for nearly two years while being a reportable offender.

Paul Norman Jacobsen leaving Maroochydore Magistrates Court last week. Picture: Sam Turner

A North Arm sexual offender has been given one more chance to stay in the community after breaching his reporting obligations, including undeclared contact with a child.

Paul Norman Jacobsen, who is a reportable offender, admitted to breaching these conditions in Maroochydore Magistrates Court last week following pleas of guilty to five counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations.

Police prosecutor Val Crossley said all charges were of similar nature which included failing to notify the registry of his mobile phone, his use of social media, and his change of employment.

Senior Sergeant Crossley said the most concerning charge was one which stretched from December 21, 2022 to October 26, 2024 which breached a suspended sentence which was imposed in 2023 for three counts of failing to comply with reporting obligations.

The police prosecutor said this was where Jacobsen failed to report his contact with a child he knew.

She told the court this was regular and ongoing contact with a child of one of the North Arm man’s friend.

Defence lawyer Katie Paterson said Jacobsen was uncovered during compliance checks and admitted to the breaches.

Jacobsen leaving court. Picture: Sam Turner

She said this included having a Facebook account, owning a phone for two weeks as a replacement, not notifying them of his employment as a traffic controller and emails he received from the bank.

Ms Paterson said Jacobsen also admitted to the ongoing contact with the child, who he instructed knew the father.

She was instructed Jacobsen “doesn’t want to be rude” if they said hello to him, but accepted this breached his obligations.

The court heard the 59-year-old had ailing health issues including an existing spinal injury which he suffered from being hit by a car in 1980.

Ms Paterson told the court the former plasterer, who was now a traffic controller, was estranged from his children, but had a fiance in the Philippines and hoped she would move to Australia soon.

Magistrate Rod Madsen jailed Jacobsen for nine months’ but granted him immediate parole. He also activated the suspended sentence he was on which will run at the same time.