Convicted sex offender before the court for breaching Child Protection Act

A Caboolture man, who shared the same bed with a 13-year-old for months, said he was so terrified of facing court for failing to report interactions with minors that he became too sick to attend.

A Caboolture man, who spent time behind bars for filming himself as an 18-year-old having sex with his then 13-year-old partner, has landed himself before the court again.

Twenty-two-year-old Robert Paul Laffey appeared in Caboolture Magistrates Court on October 14, charged with two counts of failing to comply with reporting under the Child Protection Act.

The court heard that Laffey failed to report his interactions with children between February 27 and June 10, 2022 and between December 25, 2021 and June 10,2022.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Miles said Laffey had already been fined $1,000 on December 7, 2020 and March 17, 2022, for failing to report.

In June 2020 at Brisbane District Court, Laffey was placed on the child sex offender registry and subject to reporting conditions, after he was found guilty of filming himself having sex with his 13-year-old partner, sharing a bed with her for months and giving her a tattoo.

Robert Paul Laffey, 22, leaving the Caboolture Magistrates Court after being sentenced for failing to report under the Child Protection Act.

The court was told Laffey began his relationship with the 13-year-old in March 2018 when he was 18.

Laffey was sentenced to three months behind bars.

Laffey’s lawyer Sharan Kang said Laffey has significant battles with mental health, was diagnosed with social anxiety since his incarceration and has developed a fear of being in public.

“He didn’t report the contact because of his homelessness, he found it difficult to engage with proper authorities and simply forgot,” Ms Kang said.

“The matter was listed for sentence on September 14 however due to his battles with mental health and social anxiety, he simply couldn’t set foot in the courtroom.

“He was in the building however he worked himself up, he was vomiting and the sentence was adjourned until today’s date.”

The court heard Laffey was applying for a position with a local meatworks factory.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis said the reporting conditions of the Child Protection Act are there to protect the most vulnerable in society.

“You’ve failed to comply which isn’t onerous, three times with fines already and you‘re back again with two more,” Ms Ellis said.

“They do concern me because you‘re not appreciating the concern of the requirement to report.”

Laffey was sentenced to a 12 month probation order and a conviction was recorded.