Phillip John Burton found guilty in Taree court of child sex assault, sentencing date locked in

The shocking case of a high-profile Mid-North Coast artist found guilty of child sexual assaults in a “religious context” has returned to court. Here’s the latest.

Phillip John Burton leaves Taree District Court on September 1.

Sentencing proceedings are underway in the shocking case of a high-profile Mid-North Coast artist found guilty of multiple child sexual assaults in a “religious context”.

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.

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

Phillip Burton is a well-known artist and sign writer/muralist. Picture: Facebook.

Burton admitted to being a Christian and wearing a robe during a ceremony, but denied claims made by the victim that he professed to be a prophet who could remove evil spirits.

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

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

Phillip Burton is well known in the Taree and Old Bar community.

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

Burton is also a regular at local markets, drawing portrait-style cartoons of customers, and he has played the guitar at various gigs in the region.

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

Phillip Burton is well known in the Taree and Old Bar community.

It took the jury 10 hours to find him 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.

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 he had been on bail and was supported in court by his wife, daughter and sister each day throughout the trial, which started on August 15.

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

A sentencing hearing was held in the District Court at Sydney’s Downing Centre on October 30.

Following the hearing, Burton is set to be sentenced on December 1.