Former Toowoomba Chronicle court journalist Peter Hardwick to plead guilty to child sex offences

A former Queensland court reporter with nearly 40 years of experience is expected to plead guilty to child sex offences involving an incident at a Townsville pub.

Former Toowoomba Chronicle court reporter Peter Hardwick.

A former Toowoomba court reporter with nearly 40 years of experience is expected to plead guilty next month to child sex offences involving an incident at a Townsville pub.

Peter Michael Hardwick, former veteran journalist at News Corp’s Toowoomba Chronicle, has had his matter listed for sentence next month.

Hardwick, 63, is facing two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 years after an alleged incident at a Townsville pub along The Strand on March 2, 2024.

The charges were transferred from Townsville to Brisbane after Hardwick indicated he intended to plead guilty.

He made no appearance at the matter’s first mention at Brisbane District Court on Wednesday, and was represented by Joe McConnell of Toowoomba firm McConnell & Saldumbide.

Mr McConnell said barrister David Jones KC had been briefed and requested the matter be listed for sentence.

The matter was listed for sentence on March 10.

Hardwick is currently on bail.