Peter Fritz Mahoney: Clarence Valley man guilty of sexually assaulting girl

A former North Coast SES volunteer who sexually assaulted a girl also told the child he would kill her, leading to a raft of charges when police found out. Warning: graphic content.

Grafton Courthouse. Photo Adam Hourigan.

A former State Emergency Service volunteer who sexually assaulted a girl then went to her home, grabbed her around the throat and said he would kill her, a court has heard.

Clarence Valley man Peter Mahoney, 56, entered guilty pleas to a raft of horrific offences at Grafton Local Court on Tuesday.

The offences include two counts of indecently assaulting a minor, three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse, two counts of aggravated indecency, aggravated sexual assault and common assault.

Mahoney sexually assaulted a child in northern NSW. Generic image.

The sexual offending involved one female victim and dated back a number of years.

“(She) was permitted to watch TV with (Mahoney) in his bed and ... (was allowed to) spend the whole night there,” police facts state.

Court documents further state the door could be locked to outsiders.

Mahoney has pleaded guilty to a range of offences. Generic image.

One night Mahoney raped the victim and this caused her to later ask his wife for panadol, a court heard.

He also raped her in the garage and, on a separate occasion, placed her hand on his penis while his wife was lying on a mattress nearby, according to police facts.

His ex-wife has not been charged with any offences and it is not suggested she was aware of Mahoney’s crimes.

“She says there was an occasion when (Mahoney) came to her home, went into her room, grabbed her around the throat and pushed her against the wall, telling her he would kill her,” police facts state.

“He had once told (her) a story about him killing a girl with a shotgun in Melbourne and getting away with it.”

Court documents further state Mahoney bought the girl gifts and asked her why she did not love him.

Mahoney threatened the girl if she spoke out. File picture.

The victim’s mother first learned of the offending when she found her daughter’s diary.

One of the entries read: “(You) took my virginity and my soul, you took what little I had and destroyed it. I have scars and marks from you that will never go away.”

The victim also told a relative that Mahoney had threatened to kill her if she spoke about what had happened between them, a court heard.

When police were first informed, the victim initially said nothing, but later told officers that Mahoney had taken her virginity.

In time, she made further statements to police about the offending and officers arrested Mahoney at his home in February 2023.

Mahoney has been in custody on remand since his arrest.

He is due to be sentenced at Grafton District Court. Picture: Adam Hourigan.

In a previous court appearance, defence lawyer Brett Marshall said his client was an SES member and contributor to a local football team.

Mahoney has not been with the SES for years.

The court also previously heard police had launched investigations years ago but initially had insufficient evidence to lay charges.

Mahoney is due to face Grafton District Court for sentencing on May 20.