Artist Phillip John Burton from Old Bar on Mid-North Coast found guilty, sentenced for child sex abuse in strange ‘religious context’

A disgraced Mid-North Coast artist will stay locked up for years for child sex abuse in a bizarre “religious context”, after telling a young girl their relationship was approved by God.

Mid-North Coast artist Phillip John Burton has been sentenced for child sex abuse.

A disgraced Mid-North Coast artist who sexually abused a young girl in a “religious context” will remain behind bars for at least another decade.

In September, Phillip John Burton was found guilty by a jury in Taree District Court of 16 charges relating to the same victim.

It was heard in court the offending occurred in a “religious context” and that Burton was a regular at bible readings in the area.

Phillip John Burton leaves Taree District Court on September 1.

Charges involved a range of offending including unlawful fellatio, digital penetration and vaginal and anal intercourse.

Burton admitted to being a Christian and wearing a robe during a ceremony.

But he denied claims made by the victim he professed to be a prophet who could remove evil spirits.

He denied telling the victim he could give her an anointed kiss to make her a virgin again and saying their relationship had been approved by God after he spent a lifetime fighting evil spirits.

It took the jury almost 10 hours of deliberation to reach its verdict.

The 67-year-old is well known in the region for his large murals, sign-writing and his kombi and surf art.

Phillip Burton’s art was prominent in the Taree and Old Bar community.

Burton was a regular at local markets, drawing portrait-style cartoons of customers, and he has played the guitar at various regional gigs.

He was found guilty of six counts of aggravated indecent assault with a victim under the age of 16, four counts of aggravated sexual assault and three counts of aggravated indecency.

Phillip Burton drew cartoons for people at Mid-North Coast markets. Picture: Facebook.

A Phillip Burton artwork displayed on a Taree shopfront on the day of the guilty verdict. It was removed soon after.

He was also found guilty of two counts of indecent assault where the victim is under 10 and one count of committing an act of indecency with a victim under 10.

Prior to the guilty verdict, Burton was on bail and supported in court by his wife, daughter and sister each day throughout the trial, which started on August 15.

Burton was remanded in custody when the verdict was handed down on September 5.

He was sentenced in Parramatta District Court by Judge Michael McHugh on Friday.

Burton was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment backdated from September 5, with a non-parole period of 11 years.

He will be eligible for parole on September 4, 2034.