Dubbo paedophile cannot be named and shamed but court rules victims can be identified

THE latest bizarre court decision in the case of a sex monster spared jail for reasons including his high cholesterol and sleeping problems is that his victims can be identified — but he still can’t be named and shamed.

Louise Gass, 45, has bravely come forward to expose the system that failed her and protected a paedophile. Picture: Troy Snook

THE latest bizarre court decision in the case of a sex monster spared jail for reasons including his high cholesterol and sleeping problems is that his victims can be identified — but he still can’t be named and shamed.

The man had pleaded guilty to 10 counts of child sex abuse that occurred on the two victims from 1980-1987.

But in a reverse of usual proceedings where an offender’s identity is only suppressed to ensure the victims can’t be revealed, District Court Judge John North this week ruled the victims could be named but the 55-year-old Dubbo man’s identity must be kept a secret.

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Louise Gass was raped and sexually assaulted over a period of seven years.

In a decision that has outraged the two victims, he also added an extra stipulation ruling even the predator’s initials cannot be published after his lawyer argued The Daily Telegraph’s reporting on the case had caused him “hurt and embarrassment”.

Brave Louise Gass, one of the pervert’s victims, said she felt betrayed by the justice system.

“I truly feel from my heart that they have failed me and that the system is protecting a paedophile,” Ms Gass said. “The initial case took four years in court and they decided not jail him. To have it so he can’t even be named is heartbreaking. This man has ruined my life and he completely gets away with it.”

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Ms Gass said she was concerned Judge North had criticised The Daily Telegraph’s articles in court. “They were nothing but the truth,” she said.

Another shocked victim, Leanne Watson, who was just eight when the abuse started, said the decision was crazy. “I am shocked that we are being named but he isn’t,” she said. “There are other victims and they need to know about this case.”

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman said he believed the public “generally had a right to know” the names of serious offenders and he was investigating the reasons behind the decision to allow the man’s identity to remain hidden.