Convicted paedophile Gary John Dreyer withdraws appeal for breaching court orders

A convicted paedophile who breached court orders when he befriended a single mum and showered her kids with cards and cash has withdrawn an appeal against the severity of his sentence.

A convicted paedophile sentenced to the equivalent of nine months jail for breaching court orders preventing him from unauthorised contact with children has withdrawn his appeal after a judge warned he could expect a more severe penalty.

Gary John Dreyer, of Terrigal, was sentenced to a nine-month intensive corrections order (ICO) in March after pleading guilty to two counts of breaching court orders banning him from contact with children.

An ICO is regarded by the courts as the equivalent of a jail sentence but served in the community.

The 64-year-old appealed the severity of the sentence in Gosford District Court on Tuesday arguing the breaches were minor and technical given the mother of the two children was present at all times.

Gary Dreyer (left) arrives at Gosford Court during a previous appearance. Picture: NewsLocal

His defence also submitted Dreyer had tried to contact police to advise them he had sold a business and changed cars, which he was required to do by law, but was unable to get onto the right officer.

However Judge David Wilson said Dreyer was already on an ICO and parole for two previous offences against children when he breached the court orders in December 2020 and January 2021.

An agreed set of facts states Dreyer had been sentenced to an ICO in August 2020 after being convicted and sentenced for observing a child in a private act when he stood on a toilet seat to peer over the top of a cubicle at a boy urinating in a toilet at Erina Fair in April 2019.

He was also convicted of two counts of committing an act of indecency against another boy who he lavished with free drinks from his catering business at Woy Woy before grabbing his penis.

Dreyer enters Gosford Court for a previous appearance. Picture: NewsLocal

Judge Wilson said “notwithstanding” Dreyer’s attempts to contact police to advise them of his change of circumstances, he failed to report his ongoing contact with two children who’s mother he had befriended at Terrigal.

The agreed facts state Dreyer “built up a rapport” with the single mother by offering assistance with her children, bringing in her washing and taking her bins out each week.

“His contact with her and the children was becoming more and more frequent,” the facts state.

In December 2020 he gave the woman’s son a 14th birthday card with $150 inside.

“The birthday card had a picture of two naked males showing their backsides on the front,” the facts state.

“(The mother) was very surprised that the accused gave her son so much money but the accused insisted. She also felt the card was inappropriate but didn’t want to say anything.

“The accused returned to the house later that night with a birthday cake and joined in birthday celebrations with him and his young friends.”

Dreyer withdrew his appeal after the Judge warned he would impose a more severe penalty. Picture: NewsLocal

On Christmas Day Dreyer gave both the children cards with $100 inside and again their mother felt it was too much but he told her he had “no one else to spoil”.

In January Dreyer attended the woman’s daughter’s 10th birthday and again gave her a card with $150 inside.

On February 4, 2021, the single mother contacted police with concerns about Dreyer’s contact with her children.

“The contact with the children is troubling,” Judge Wilson said.

“I have formed the view ... that the offender is a risk to the community and more particularly young males in the community.”

Judge Wilson cautioned Dreyer if he was to re-sentence him over the two breaches he would impose a longer term of full-time custody than the nine-month ICO imposed by the Local Court.

Dreyer withdrew his appeal and it was dismissed.