Former Surfers Paradise clubbie jailed for string of child sex charges

A FORMER Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving clubbie will serve 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to sexually abusing seven girls in five years.

Beautiful beach conditions at Surfers Paradise drew a large crowd of swimmers and sunbakers. Lifesavers Mark Stafford (in surf cap) and Alison Zygadlo (white hat) keep an eye on swimmers.

A FORMER Surfers Paradise Surf Lifesaving clubbie will serve 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to sexually abusing seven girls in five years.

Mark Francis Stafford, who got access to three of the children he later abused through another clubbie without her knowledge, last week pleaded guilty to a total of 31 charges in Brisbane District Court.

He was sentenced to three years in jail, suspended after 10 months, for the offences committed from 2008 until 2013.

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Court documents showed that the charges against Stafford related to his involvement with girls from three Gold Coast families.

The court heard that many of the incidents occurred at his house on a weekend after he convinced the mother of several of the girls, including an 8-year-old, to let the sisters sleep over.

During the visit Stafford instructed the girls to paint his body while naked, pretended to have sex with a mannequin in front of them and swam with them in the pool while he was naked.

He also served the children Midori and encouraged them to search for explicit pictures and videos on his computer.

Stafford gave the girls key search words that brought up a pornographic video and while they were watching a couple having sex, he explained what masturbating was and how to do it.

He took pictures of the girls jumping into the pool on the same day, photographing them the moment their T-shirts pushed up so that their bodies were almost naked.

Police found the images in a search of his home.

Stafford also admitted to abusing another one of the other girls in her home, while her parents were in another room nearby.

Other charges related to him touching the girls sexually while showering with them.

His oldest victim, who was a teenager at the time, sent a message to Stafford before he was charged in February last year saying she was planning to expose him.

Stafford sent back a text saying he thought the girls “were enjoying it”. He threatened to kill himself if she took action. Police used the texts as evidence against him.

Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club secretary Scott Andrews said Mr Stafford’s membership with the club was revoked immediately after police told the club he was under investigation as part of Surf Life Saving Australia’s policy.

“We first heard he was being investigated by police when they approached the club,” Mr Andrews said.

“And when any surf life- saving member is investigated by police the requirement is that they are immediately stood down.”

“He was an active volunteer who took part in standard patrols.”