Gordonvale child rapist, Stephen Samuel Sailor, 47, sentenced for depraved assaults of girls, 5 and 7

After his arrest for rape and indecent treatment of a seven-year-old girl, a “depraved” Cairns construction worker and rugby player confessed to indecently assaulting a five-year-old 20 years earlier, a court has heard.

Cairns rugby league player Stephen Samuel Sailor, 47, was sentenced in Cairns District Court after pleading guilty to three charges of indecent treatment of a child under 12 and two counts of rape of a child under 12. Photo: Facebook

After his arrest for rape and indecent treatment of a seven-year-old girl, a “depraved” Cairns construction worker and rugby player confessed to indecently assaulting a five-year-old 20 years earlier, a court has heard.

Stephen Samuel Sailor, 47, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent treatment of a child under 12 and two counts of rape of a child under 12 in Cairns District Court on May 14.

Crown Prosecutor Annica Fritz told the court the charges related to two girls one aged just four or five and another aged seven to nine.

Ms Fritz said the offending was uncovered after an adult caught Sailor indecently assaulting the young girl in early 2023.

She said it was during an interview by investigating police that Sailor confessed to indecently assaulting the younger girl 20 years previously when he was 25 years old.

Ms Fritz said Sailor’s offending was “brazen and opportunistic”, abusing the girl when they were alone or only accompanied by other young children.

Cairns rugby league player Stephen Samuel Sailor, 47, was sentenced in Cairns District Court after pleading guilty to three charges of indecent treatment of a child under 12 and two counts of rape of a child under 12. Photo: Facebook

On two occasions Sailor digitally raped the young girl.

Ms Fritz said the abuse had changed the trajectory of the girl’s life and had had a “profound adverse impact on her and her family”.

“The offending was persistent, and deliberate rather than spontaneous,” she said.

Sailor’s defence counsel Tim Grau conceded the offending was “appalling conduct and an extreme breach of trust”.

“He is ashamed and makes no excuses for his behaviour,” he said.

Mr Grau revealed Sailor had disclosed he was also the victim of abuse as a child that he never reported that had a profound impact on his own life.

Judge Joshua Trevino KC said it was ironic that despite knowing the consequences this has had on his own life, that he would offend in the same way, impacting the life of two young children.

Mr Grau said it “was unfortunate for all involved”.

Mr Grau said Sailor had eight children of his own and six grandchildren and had worked in construction and mining as well as previously played first grade rugby league in Far North Queensland.

Judge Trevino said the offending represented “terrible” and “persistent” abuse that must have been confusing and uncomfortable for someone so young.

“You cynically abused her to satisfy your own base needs causing irreparable harm and trauma,” he said.

“You pose a significant risk to children in your orbit and have an unaddressed depraved interest in your female children.

“There is no evidence presented today that you have done anything to address this.
“You are in need of counselling and therapy and will have to work very hard to convince a parole board which will include addressing your demons.”

Sailor was sentenced to five years imprisonment with a parole eligibility date of October 14 2025, with 394 days already served in custody.

Originally published as Gordonvale child rapist, Stephen Samuel Sailor, 47, sentenced for depraved assaults of girls, 5 and 7