Pedo precinct breach: Woman visited sex offenders in latest fail

Queensland’s Police Minister says a “significant upgrade” of “perimeter security” at a sex offender precinct is on the cards after a visitor was caught with one of the state’s most notorious pedophiles, despite assurances that security had already been increased.

Douglas Jackway. Picture: 7 News/File

• Life inside sex offenders precinct
• Editor’s view: Minister promised a fix – he’s failed

Security at Queensland’s sex offender precinct including patrols, lighting and CCTV had already been stepped up when a woman was caught visiting violent pedophile Douglas Jackway and another sex offender Police Minister Mark Ryan has confirmed.

And a “significant upgrade” of “perimeter security” was expected to happen soon, with authorities currently buying the material needed, he said.

Jackway, one of Queensland’s most notorious pedophiles was caught with a visitor at the state’s sex offender precinct, despite the assurances by the minister and the boss of Corrective Services that security at the facility had been increased.

The violent pedophile and another sex offender have been returned to jail after the woman was caught visiting them.

Jackway and the other man had been living in houses under strict Dangerous Prisoner (Sexual Offenders) Act (DPSOA) supervision orders in the sex offender precinct in Wacol.

Jackway.

This latest incident comes just two months after Police Minister Mark Ryan said two reviews had been ordered by Queensland Corrective Services following a Courier-Mail story which revealed another dangerous sex offender living in the facility had allegedly committed offences against a girl, understood to be aged 15.

On Tuesday night Mr Ryan said recommendations from the review have been incorporated, while further measures are underway.

“An external body has undertaken a review of the precinct security, resulting in more stringent and more thorough protocols in respect to the DPSOA precinct,” Mr Ryan said.

“I am advised recommendations have already been incorporated into the precinct upgrades, while further protective and preventive measures are still under way to make it more difficult for unauthorised visitors to access the precinct.

“Following the review, I am advised QCS has increased the physical presence of officers on the precinct, with more frequent patrols, while changes to infrastructure has also seen enhancements to fencing, lighting and CCTV.”

On Wednesday, following public outcry, Mr Ryan said a “significant upgrade” of “perimeter security” was expected to happen soon, with authorities currently buying the material needed, in addition to the already-in-place upgrades.

He also said a full investigation would be undertaken into the alleged incident involving Jackway.

“Last year we identified the opportunity to make some initial and immediate improvements to the Wacol contingency housing precincts … those have been complicated,” he said.

“But there are some more significant upgrades (which will) take a little bit longer to do, that are underway.”

Minister for Police and Corrective Services Mark Ryan.

The Courier-Mail understands the woman visited the men on the weekend of January 28-29 before the incident came to attention of officers.

Jackway is one of the state’s most notorious sex offenders who was once a suspect in the murder of schoolboy Daniel Morcombe.

It is the second alleged breach at the precinct in months after another sex offender living there allegedly sexually abused a teenage girl there last year. The incidents have prompted a backlash from corrective service officers who want more patrols of the area, including regular use of the dog squad.

Jackway has been charged with contravention of a relevant order.

Jackway, whose matter went before the Supreme Court this week, has been remanded in custody until March 10 when he will face a contravention hearing relating to his order.

There are 56 offenders living in housing in the precinct, which is close to the highest number recorded in Queensland.

The Courier-Mail understands authorities are investigating if the woman came in a car driven by the other sex offender.

Officers say CCTV cameras need to be installed underneath houses as there are black spots where some of the cars drive to avoid CCTV.

When asked about the issue, Queensland Corrective Services Commissioner Paul Stewart said anywhere on the precinct where people were able to be hidden and out of view would be a concern.

“And we will do everything to make sure we have the coverage within and continue to monitor and again introduce any form of technology that we can into the future to defeat any activity on the precinct,” he said.

Mr Stewart said an external agency carried out a review of the precinct in December and recommendations were still being implemented.

He said additional fencing was yet to be installed which would increase security.

“As a result of that review we made a number of immediate changes in relation to security within the facility,” Mr Stewart said.

“And the reason behind that was to prevent and to limit the risk of members of the community coming on to the precinct.

“We cleared the vegetation around the fencing, we repaired the fencing and we placed additional CCTV coverage within the precinct.

“We have more to do and we are in the final stages now of completing some work and procuring fencing around the precinct, a higher level of fencing in order to keep people from coming on to the precinct and to provide a higher level of security within the precinct.

“The other thing that we did, we also increased our people in relation to their presence on the precinct together with the Queensland Police Service.

“We have actively patrolled, conducted surveillance and done more work on the precinct in order to increase the presence on that precinct.”

There are 56 offenders living in housing in the precinct, which is close to the highest number recorded in Queensland.

When he was 18, Jackway sexually assaulted a boy and raped him. He was jailed for eight years.

Jackway was later charged with a historic rape offence against a nine-year-old girl, when he was aged 14, and was jailed for seven years. He was released on a supervision order in December 2020.

One month after he was released from prison by the order, Jackway contravened the order by helping an unauthorised visitor to the precinct to inject herself with methamphetamines.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening the court order and was convicted and fined $1500.

After the incident was reviewed in the Supreme Court he remained on the supervision order

A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman confirmed Jackway and the other man were back in jail after the latest incident.

“The individuals referred to have been arrested and are back behind bars,” she said.

“Members of the public are not permitted on the housing precinct at any time.

“As there are ongoing QCS and QPS investigations under way it would be inappropriate to comment further.

The incident follows another sex offender in the precinct allegedly sexually abused a teenage girl there.

Robert Kelly Allen, 36, was living in a house at the sex offender 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. Allen is also facing 15 charges of contravention of a relevant order.

Four of the indecent charges state “indecent film”.

After The Courier-Mail revealed the alleged crimes in November, Queensland Corrective Services said it had launched an investigation and there would be “enhancements” to fencing, lighting and CCTV.

But it later refused to comment about what any subsequent investigation has found or if any of the enhancements had been made to the precinct.

Mr Stewart said DPSOA offenders were “very complex and challenging individuals”.

“And they’re very well versed in avoiding and seeking to avoid detection,” he said.

“Our people out at the Wacol precinct do an excellent job.”

When asked if QCS would consider searching offenders when they came back to the precinct Mr Stewart said QCS would consider “every point of access and every action and activity that happens within the precinct in order to minimise the risk within the bounds that we have in relation to our abilities.”