Former archery instructor Micheil Thomas Campbell, 30, sentenced over assault of girl on school camp in the Atherton Tablelands

“See you, hottie,” were the words an archery instructor directed towards a 12-year-old girl on school camp in the Tablelands before he slapped her and touched her indecently, a court has heard.

Micheil Thomas Campbell, 30, pleaded guilty in Cairns District court to two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 years of age, and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months, and also to 18 months probation.

“See you, hottie,” were the words an archery instructor directed towards a 12-year-old girl on school camp in the Tablelands before he slapped her and touched her indecently, a court has heard.

Quarry worker, Micheil Thomas Campbell, 30, pleaded guilty last week in Cairns District court to two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 years of age, and was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, wholly suspended for 18 months, and also to 18 months probation.

Judge Joshua Trevino KC described the man’s behaviour as “incredibly brazen”, saying Campbell spoke with the girl at an archery session on the first day of the three-day school camp in a way that showed he had “some sexual interest” in her, later touching her indecently on the final day of the camp.

At that stage, Campbell was cleaning the cabins, the court was told, and the girl’s friends were nearby.

“There was some conversation ... she asked you how long you had been working at the camp ... and you said ‘see you, hottie’ and slapped her bottom with an open hand ... following her when she walked outside and extending your arm and your hand to touch her ... outside her clothes,” Judge Trevino said.

“This was incredibly brazen behaviour committed when you were employed at an education centre where you held a position of some trust and responsibility in respect of the children who attended there.”

The court was told the indecent dealing happened in March 2021 and the victim, then a year seven student attending a high school in the Cairns area, did not initially report what happened.

It was only after she mentioned it in a Kids Helpline web chat two years later that the offending came to light.

The girl went to the police in August 2023, and Campbell was questioned, initially denying what had happened.

Defence barrister Aaron Dunkerton told the court Campbell was a father who had no prior or subsequent criminal history for like offences, describing Campbell’s behaviour at the camp as spontaneous and opportunistic.

He said the incident, which did not involve physical harm or skin contact “objectively fell at the lower end of the spectrum” for this type of crime.

Mr Dunkerton said Campbell no longer worked at the centre, and was employed at a local quarry.

He submitted reports to the court that showed Campbell had learning difficulties, low intelligence, a low risk of re-offending and suspected fetal alcohol syndrome disorder; he had sought psychological help.

He said that these factors, coupled with Campbell’s guilty pleas, constituted “exceptional circumstances”, and grounds for a sentence without actual jail time.

Judge Trevino accepted the submission saying Campbell was “clearly a man in need of some assistance” and a ‘lengthy’ period of rehabilitation.

He imposed a wholly-suspended nine-month prison sentence for touching the girl on the genitals and an 18-month probation order for the offence related to slapping her bottom. Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Former archery instructor Micheil Thomas Campbell, 30, sentenced over assault of girl on school camp in the Atherton Tablelands