Dangerous sex offender charged with sexually abusing girl in offenders’ precinct

QCS boss Paul Stewart has expressed regret over his team’s failure to prevent a dangerous offender living in paedophile housing near Wacol from allegedly sexually abusing a teenage girl.

Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Paul Stewart has expressed ‘deep regret’ over the case of a dangerous sexual offender – who had been deemed safe to live in paedophile housing in Wacol – being charged with sexually abusing a teenage girl and making child exploitation material in a house at the precinct.

Robert Kelly Allen, 36, was living at the sex offenders’ precinct when he allegedly committed offences against a girl, understood to be aged 15.

Allen, who was released into the community under a Dangerous Prisoner (Sexual Offenders) Act (DPSOA) supervision order, is facing 44 charges including 20 counts of carnal knowledge of a child under 16, child grooming, making child exploitation material and indecent treatment of a child.

Four of the indecent charges state “indecent film”.

Allen will appear in Richlands Magistrates Court on December 14, facing 21 charges including contravention of a relevant order and indecent treatment.

He will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 30 on 23 charges including carnal knowledge of a child under 16.

Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Paul Stewart. Picture Supplied

Mr Stewart confirmed that an offender subject to an order under a Dangerous Prisoner (Sexual Offenders) ACT (DPSOA) had been “arrested and returned to custody due to allegedly breaching his order conditions”.

“Our officers take the supervision of these offenders incredibly seriously and do everything they can in their power under the legislation to prevent reoffending – for the most part the process works well,” he said.

“Queensland DPSOAs have a low rate of reoffending, sadly however we are dealing with incredibly complex and challenging individuals, who have committed abhorrent crimes and can be well versed in avoiding scrutiny.

“We deeply regret that in this instance it appears that our best efforts were not successful in preventing the alleged offences.”

Asked whether sexual offenders who are living in the precinct are allowed to have visitors, Mr Stewart said “People that are living in the housing are very stringently supervised – there is the ability for visitors to attend the precinct but only if they are approved and under specific supervision”.

Mr Stewart said each year in Queensland about 50,000 individuals spend time in the custody or supervision of Queensland Corrective Services but that a “small number”, 213 at present, are sentenced under the DPSOA.

“Of those 213 there are 144 presently being managed in the community including in contingency housing,” he said.

Minister for Police Mark Ryan said he “immediately asked” the QCS commissioner to “take action in respect of this cohort of offenders”.

“The court has determined that these individuals are on community orders, subject to either electronic monitoring or curfews or a range of processes – some of the individuals are able to leave the precinct because they are more highly monitored for specific periods of time,” he said.

“But there are individuals who are able to go out into the community again under court orders.”

Asked whether QCS officers received adequate training, Mr Stewart said “our officers are among the highest trained in the country - our people do provide stringent levels of monitoring, supervising and managing.”

“I refute any suggestion that our people aren’t highly trained.”

Mr Stewart said a review has been conducted to “prevent further incidents of the nature alleged” which included “enhancements” to fencing, lighting and CCTV.

He said internet and phone access is “subject to order conditions”.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said he “immediately asked” the QCS commissioner to “take action in respect of this cohort of offenders” and sought confirmation there would be a thorough review when he was first briefed about the incident.

“I’m advised that a review by an external body has already been completed and immediate measures by QCS are being implemented,” he said.

An internal review was also underway.

Mr Ryan said he could not make further comment on the matter as it was before the courts.

Robert Allen was living at sex offenders’ precinct near the Wacol prison. File picture

The Courier-Mail understands police will allege the offences were committed at the precinct – which houses the state’s worst sex offenders who are released on supervision orders – with the girl being there for more than one night.

One of his conditions of Allen’s DPSOA release was that he have no supervised or unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16 without written approval of a corrective services officer.

Authorities didn’t release any details about the alleged serious offences involving the girl when Allen was charged and did not answer how the girl was able to attend the house in the precinct, which is under video surveillance.

The Courier-Mail understands the girl is in a vulnerable situation in relation to her living situation.

“They returned him to custody and no one is saying anything about it,” a prison officer said.

Corrective Services officers say staff doing patrols currently receive no training and former patrols involving dog squad officers – who had guns and OC spray – have been cut.

Allen appeared via videolink on Monday.

MP and former child protection officer Dan Purdie. File picture

Opposition MP and former child protection police officer Dan Purdie said the community should be concerned about the “failure to properly monitor this offender”.

“DPSO’s need to be closely monitored to protect the community,” he said.

Police and Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said the alleged behaviour was “sickening and I absolutely condemn in the strongest possible terms the behaviour this person has been accused of”.

“Given this matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.

“Queensland has among the toughest laws in the nation and there are severe consequences for offenders. And just this week we’ve introduced further legislation which will double monitoring periods for child sex offenders.”