Three Far North Coast brothers who were sexually abused by their stepfather tell the court how they’re still ‘broken’

The man repeatedly bribed his stepsons with various treats as a reward if he could perform various sexual acts with them. Now he’s been sentenced for his crimes.

A North Coast man has been sentenced for the sexual assault of his three stepsons.

A Far North Coast man who sexually assaulted his three stepsons will spend a significant amount of his life behind bars after being sentenced.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty by a jury in December 2020 on three counts of maintaining a sexual relationship with the three brothers, each aged between 10 and 14 at the time of the offending.

The man was in a relationship with the three boys’ mother when the offending occurred between 2017 and 2018 in the Tweed Shire.

Considered the boys’ father figure, the man repeatedly bribed his three stepsons with various treats, food and video games as a reward if he could perform various sexual acts with them, the court heard.

The man appeared via video link, where he was seen wearing a sling due to an arm injury, for his sentencing in Lismore District Court on Friday.

Judge Jeffery McLennan spent more than two hours reading out his judgment, going through the particulars of the offences and reflecting on the impact to the victims.

Judge McLennan said each child’s testimony had “impressed” him in that he found the boys’ were truthful in giving evidence.

He referred to the victim impact statement of one of the brothers, who had previously told the court he felt “broken” because of the offending.

Judge McLennan said another boy had spoken of how he constantly felt angry about losing his innocence.

“I don’t know how all the bits in between of just being a kid can disappear, this makes me angry,” the boy said in his victim impact statement.

The man was sentenced to an aggregate 28 years term of imprisonment, with a 21-year non-parole period.

Judge McLennan said the offender, who maintains his innocence, received a “stern punishment” to act as a “real significant deterrent to any such conduct in the future”.

“The sentence I am going to impose will also act as a deterrent to others,” Judge McLennan said.

“The harm done to the victims of child sexual assault is well recognised by the courts.

“The extent to which (the offender) has robbed these children of their joy of life is no less profound.”

*For 24-hour sexual violence support call the national hotline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or MensLine on 1800 600 636.