Adem Demirci jailed at Beenleigh Court for sexual abuse of girl

NAMED: A former Queensland Turkish restaurant chef has been jailed for the predatory two-year-long sexual abuse of a girl.

A Turkish restaurant chef was jailed at Beenleigh District Court.

A former chef at a Turkish restaurant in Logan has been jailed for the disturbing two-year-long sexual abuse of a girl, a court has heard.

Adem Demirci, 56, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court on February 2, 2023 to seven counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 and one count of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.

The court heard that Demirci regularly moved the victim into secluded areas to abuse her.

He also forced her to watch pornography, the court heard.

Demirci emigrated from Turkey when he was 23 and ran a Turkish restaurant in Logan until its closure in 2019.

The father of five was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and told the court he hoped to work in prison.

Queensland Police became aware of his offending when the victim told her school health class about it.

In a victim impact statement tendered to the court, she explained she had difficulties participating in sex education classes and socialising at school as a result of the traumatic actions inflicted on her.

She said the stress of disclosing the abuse to her mother was very difficult and she struggled today with perceptions of herself in clothes and had body image issues.

The prosecution said the defendant’s behaviour was grossly inappropriate and exploitative

Judge Craig Chowdhury said it was a tragedy this type of offending occurred.

“Sexual offences against children are just appalling, you had her at your mercy,” he said.

“The lifelong damage to victims is disturbing.”

The defendant was sentenced to four years in prison with a parole eligibility date of February 1, 2024.