Roger Higgins: NSW rugby referee jailed over child abuse material
A court has heard how an elderly, well-regarded former rugby referee and active church member claimed his victims ‘lured’ him into his historic abuse. It comes as he faced court over a stash of child abuse material, the details of which are too sickening to print.
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An elderly convicted child abuser has been jailed after a police investigation uncovered graphic child abuse material encompassing more than 50 young victims on his computer.
Most regarded Roger Higgins, 74, as a respected rugby union referee – a life member of the NSW Rugby Referees Association – and an active member of his Anglican Church in Gymea.
However, Higgins was hiding terrible secrets – which emerged when he faced Downing Centre Local Court after he pleaded guilty to possessing about 1000 child abuse images depicting more than 50 children being subjected to vile abuse too distressing to publish details of.
Magistrate Alexander Mijovich heard Higgins was convicted of indecently assaulting two children aged 12 and 15 in 1985 while he was employed as a public school teacher.
Higgins continued to teach in public schools until 1993 when the Department of Education learned of his criminal past and dismissed him.
Some 35 years on, Higgins is behind bars for the first time after Mr Mijovich sentenced him to at least seven months’ imprisonment.
“I have no doubt he knew it was illegal,” Mr Mijovich said.
“I’m told he accepts that it is unacceptable – he should have accepted that in the past.”
Higgins will be eligible for parole on April 20 next year.
The elderly Kingsgrove man’s solicitor Greg Walsh told the court Higgins was “deeply ashamed, deeply sorry, and deeply remorseful”.
“He expressed appropriate shame and contrition,” Mr Walsh said.
“This is a case where the concept of mercy does have a role to play.”
Police prosecutor Sergeant Nicholas said the age of the young boys depicted in the child abuse material was consistent with the age of Higgins’ victims in 1985.
“He’s saying he was just curious but this is his way of life,” Sgt Nicholas told the court.
“Given the likeness of the offending, this is not curiosity – this is what he does.”
The court also heard Higgins referred to his young victims as having “lured” him into his abuse.
Renowned Sutherland Shire solicitor Ted Bramble and Gymea Anglican Church pastor Graham Crew were among those who provided character references for Higgins.
However, it was to no avail and Higgins was taken into custody to begin serving his jail sentence after an application for bail prior to a District Court appeal against his 15-month prison sentence on November 18 was denied by Magistrate Vivien Swain.
The court heard Higgins became significantly involved in rugby union refereeing at a high level after his conviction in 1985.
NSW Rugby Referees Association documents confirm Higgins is a life member and was coaching up-and-coming referees as recently as 2019.
“The offender seeks unsupervised employment with children and goes under the radar until he is caught,” Sgt Nicholas told the court.
“That would give the court concern that he will continue to surround himself with children.”
Higgins has not come to the attention of police for any reason since 1985 and the court heard that after he was charged he was placed on a behaviour contract in terms of his church participation.