Petford youth worker Geoff Guest child sexual abuse trial ends in hung jury

A former youth worker and OAM recipient known for his work with troubled teens may face a retrial on historical child sexual abuse charges after a jury was unable to reach a verdict in his trial.

Former youth worker Geoff Guest OAM leaves the Cairns District Court with supporters and members of his legal team. Mr Guest faced a trial charged with historic sexual abuse offences on a child under 16, but it ended with a hung jury. Picture: Brendan Radke

A former youth worker and OAM recipient known for his work with troubled teens on Far North properties may face a retrial on historical child sexual abuse charges after a jury was unable to reach a verdict in his trial.

Geoffrey John Guest, 98, pleaded not guilty in Cairns District Court last week to six charges - one count of repeated sexual conduct with a child under 16, four charges of indecent treatment and one count of carnal knowledge.

The the jury heard five days of evidence, witness testimony and statements from the complainant, who cannot be named, investigating police, and from supporters of Mr Guest during the defence case.

Former youth worker Geoff Guest OAM, 98, leaves the Cairns District Court during his trial. Picture: Brendan Radke

The jury retired to consider its verdict on Wednesday afternoon, deliberating for more than 15 hours.

They sought directions from the judge several times before asking for further guidance on Friday afternoon about what to do if they could not agree on a verdict.

District Court Judge Tracy Fantin explained that, in some cases a majority 11-1 verdict was permitted by the courts, and such a verdict would be accepted in this case.

She directed them to continue their deliberations, but dismissed the jury an hour later after they indicated their belief they would be unable to agree on a unanimous or a majority verdict.

Judge Fantin adjourned the case for mention and trial review on August 4, 2025.

During the trial, Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court it was alleged Mr Guest had repeatedly sexually abused a teenage boy across two years from 1975-1977 on a remote station on the Tablelands when he was aged in his 40s.

Horse handler and bushman Geoff Guest may face another trial after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous or majority verdict. The case will be mentioned again in August.

Ms Friedewald told the court the alleged victim had kept the abuse secret until his partner saw Mr Guest on an episode of 60 Minutes talking about his youth work at Petford Station.

Mr Guest denies the allegations and took the stand in his defence telling the court he never abused the boy either sexually or physically.

Mr Guest’s defence counsel Kelly Goodwin called 11 witnesses to attest to Mr Guest’s character, and told the jury in his closing arguments they should find Mr Guest not guilty because “it simply didn’t happen.”

Mr Guest founded the Petford Training Camp on the Atherton Tablelands. Picture: Supplied

The charges predate Mr Guest’s move to Petford Training Camp, where he would later set up a youth camp which ran from 1978 to 1999 to teach troubled teen skills such as horse riding and cattle mustering.

Originally published as Petford youth worker Geoff Guest child sexual abuse trial ends in hung jury