Family Court bans father who has a nappy fetish from raising his kids

The Family Court of Australia has ruled the children of a man who has a fetish for wearing nappies could be psychologically damaged if exposed to their father’s lifestyle.

A father has been banned by a court from having any contact with his children ­because he has a fetish for wearing nappies.

The Family Court of Australia banned the man after a judge ruled his children were at risk of being psychologically damaged if exposed to their ­father’s lifestyle choices and internet material associated with his interests.

The man cannot legally be identified, but the court heard he was part of “a community” of like-minded people, and that “his desires and behaviours” had been part of his personality “throughout virtually the whole of his life”.

The mother of the children took legal action after he began openly wearing nappies in their home.

Under cross-examination, the father oscillated between denying and agreeing his behaviour was related to a fetish, but told the court “it has been a part of me all my life”. He told the court he liked to use stuffed toys while another person gives him “adult-style care”.

The Family Court has ruled the man cannot see his children. Picture: iStock

The pair formed a romantic relationship in the mid-2000s.

The woman told the court that when they moved in ­together she was aware the man wore nappies for “the purpose of sexual arousal”.

It made her feel “disturbed” and “insecure” but he refused to see a counsellor, she told the court.

The couple had children but, as they grew older, the mother became concerned the father “began regularly wearing” nappies around the home.

The pair split and the couple initially agreed to shared parenting arrangements on the condition the man kept his lifestyle hidden from the children.

But the mother told the court that when the man arrived to pick up their children in 2019 she could see he was wearing a nappy that was “partially exposed”, and she took legal ­action to prevent him seeing the children.

In March 2020 the father attended an international event in the United States ­organised by “the community”, the court heard.

The court also heard the ­father had “repartnered” with another woman “who engaged in similar behaviours”.

On June 23, 2021, Justice Hilary Hannam made orders in the family court banning the man from having any contact with his children.

“I have great reservations and ultimately do not accept that the father has an authentic willingness or ­capacity to disavow engaging in the behaviours in question and in his connections to the community,” Justice Hannam said.

The man appealed but on April 13 the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia rejected his appeal.

The woman’s lawyer Peter Katsoolis said the ruling was a landmark decision.

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