Empire Bay: Phillip James O’Reilly jailed for sexually abusing girl in 2008-10
A man who plied a young girl with lollies, played video games and took her looking for tadpoles in a local creek has been jailed for sexually abusing her nearly 15 years ago. Read what he got here.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A young woman has told a court the sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hand of a man who befriended her mother has “ruined” her life.
Phillip James O’Reilly, of Woy Woy, faced Downing Centre District Court on Thursday after being found guilty by a jury of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and having sexual intercourse with a minor.
The now 55-year-old was arrested on September 18, 2020, following and investigation by detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
Detectives had launched an investigation two years earlier in 2018 when a young woman reported she had been sexually assaulted by a man known to her between Christmas 2008 and 2010.
O’Reilly pleaded not guilty to the two charges and five other alternative or “backup” offences but was found guilty after a trial earlier this year.
Judge David Wilson described O'Reilly's offending as “extremely serious” and the evidence established that he was “a sexual predator”.
Judge Wilson said it was accepted by the jury O’Reilly was living at Bayside Gardens Caravan Park at Empire Bay and met the child and her mother at a Christmas party at the end of 2008.
He said the jury accepted O’Reilly gave the girl lollies, played PlayStation games with her and took her fishing and collecting tadpoles in a nearby creek.
Judge Wilson said the girl, who was aged about five to seven at the time, often stayed the night at O'Reilly's caravan.
The jury found O’Reilly, who was aged between 40-42 at the time, kissed the victim on the mouth, exposed his penis to her, pressed it against her, made her touch it and showed her a pornographic video until his then partner came home and he quickly turned it off.
The jury also found he sexually violated her with a glow stick on a trip to the mid north coast.
The victim provided an impact statement to the court in which she outlined how his offending had “ruined” her life.
Judge Wilson sentenced O’Reilly to 11 years jail with a non-parole period of seven years.
With time already served he will be eligible for release on February 14 2030.
‘Military style’: Raid allegedly uncovers equipment cache
The discovery of two gun barrels in international mail has allegedly led ABF officers to a huge haul of military-style equipment in a suburban home.
Read more
Brutal bashing leaves good Samaritan paralysed
Two men who launched a savage and unprovoked attack on a good Samaritan, leaving him with a catastrophic brain injury have faced court for their roles in the life-altering assault.
Read more