Brisbane father jailed for years for ‘deplorable’ abuse of six-year-old son for ‘personal gratification’

A highly intelligent, successful professional committed “the most egregious breach of trust imaginable” on his doting six-year-old son for “personal gratification”, a court has heard, as the child’s mother supported him during the trial. WARNING: disturbing.

A successful professional with a background in academic excellence will spend years in jail for raping his six-year-old autistic son during his marriage break-up.

Unable to be named in order to protect the identity of the victim, the father-of-two, aged in his 30s, sat quietly crying before the commencement of his Beenleigh District Court sentencing today (September 21).

Remarkably, the defendant was supported in court by his former wife (and mother of the victim child), his father-in-law and his employer, among others.

It comes after he was found guilty by a jury on Friday of one count of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.

The court heard the man anally raped his son on at least two occasions sometime after the boy’s sixth birthday following a marriage breakdown.

Acting for the crown, barrister David Finch said it was an example of gross breach of trust and persisted over a period of up to two years which involved a variety of sexual acts including oral and anal sex.

Beenleigh Courthouse. Picture: Richard Walker

“A father in relation to his own biological child and in the context of that child already having to navigate a dissolution of his parents’ marriage.”

The court heard the offending had developed gradually with the child told he was partaking in “secret massages”.

Told to keep the events secret, the boy was not verbally or physically threatened.

The subterfuge kept the abuse hidden even while the child’s mother lived at the residence before moving out, the court heard.

The abuse eventually came to light when the boy told an after school worker of the behaviour.

Defence barrister Debra Wardle said owing to at times “vague” evidence from the child, it was impossible to ascertain the precise frequency of the offending.

The court accepted it occurred on at least six occasions.

Ms Warble said the father’s was an unusual example of abuse as, once the offending had come to light, he was forthright about his deeds to his wife and family members.

Numerous references were tendered to the court on his behalf including from his now ex wife, his employer and a community group member.

They variously referred to the man as “community minded” and “committed to his family”.

The court heard the defendant had graduated with top marks from a renowned Brisbane school and gone on to a successful professional career and property portfolio.

Ms Warble said the man had also continued with community activities such as working with the Scouts and volunteering at Bunnings – when children were not in attendance – and had informed the groups of the charges he faced.

In sentencing, Judge Geraldine denounced the man for preying on a particularly vulnerable victim who was “inconsolable” at the loss of contact with his father.

“Your offending has plainly devastated the whole family unit,” Ms Dann said.

“Your offending occurred over a significant period of time, was degrading of your young son.

“It was a gross breach of your trust and a terrible abuse of your power and your influence over him as a vulnerable child.

“Your offending was undertaken for personal gratification … and is to be strongly deplored.”

With no criminal history to speak of, the man was sentenced to nine years’ jail with no fixed parole date set.

A conviction was recorded.