Accused interstate child predator allegedly raped teen girl in Qld

A South Australian who is recorded as a sex offender is now accused of flying to Queensland specifically to meet a 13-year-old girl who he then raped, a court has heard.

The South Australian man was already on the child offender register.

An accused South Australian child predator allegedly flew to Queensland specifically to meet a 13-year-old girl who he then raped, a court has heard.

The accused Kyle James Hibbert, who is already recorded as a sex offender, became more and more agitated on the videolink from the watchhouse before losing control with an expletive-laden, sobbing rant and hitting the walls of the secure booth.

Hibbert’s case was heard in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday where he is charged with nine fresh offences including child grooming and rape.

Duty Lawyer Matthew Fairclough made a bail application on Hibbert’s behalf.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Brad Dick opposed Hibbert’s release, telling the court “the material speaks for itself” and the accused is a “high risk to young members of society”.

“These are obviously very serious offences involving a highly vulnerable victim – a 13-year-old child,” Sergeant Dick said.

“He is a flight risk … he has specifically travelled from South Australia to meet up with this child.

“It would also appear to be a very strong case with the alleged victim supplying electronic records of the conversation.

“This defendant is already on the child offender register and he has a long and serious criminal history.”

Mr Fairclough indicated that Hibbert intends to contest the charges – some of which are so serious that they must be elevated to the District Court.

Mr Fairclough said Hibbert was prepared to regularly report to his local police station in South Australia, and be subject to a residential condition and order that he have no further contact with the complainant child.

The court heard Hibbert is unemployed, but applied for a job at Coles prior to Christmas. He has an intellectual impairment as well as ADHD, anxiety and depression.

Appearing via videolink from the Ipswich Watchhouse cells, Hibbert’s emotional state worsened as the hearing went on, with him repeatedly interjecting.

“I’ve got too much stuff to lose, I need to go back home,” he said initially, as he began sobbing and holding his head in his hands.

“She set me up and lied about everything … she said she was 18 … I didn’t rape [her].”

Hibbert denied flying up from South Australia specifically to meet the young girl, saying he “I came up here with my family” and claiming he was “set up for something I didn’t do”.

Hibbert then began screaming and swearing and hitting the walls of the secure booth, at which point the volume on his microphone was turned down by court staff as Acting Magistrate Rob Turra gave his decision on Hibbert’s bail application.

The acting magistrate refused Hibbert bail, describing the charges as “serious and heinous”.

“He has a history of non-compliance with reporting conditions – he has been dealt with for these on eight occasions,” Mr Turra said.

“He has also failed to appear in court and has three breaches of bail conditions.

“He is a flight risk and a threat to children, which is unacceptable.”

Hibbert was remanded in custody and his case will return to Ipswich Magistrates Court on January 22.