Lachlan Howard: Ballarat Karate Club life member jailed for child sex offences

A former Ballarat karate coach and farmer has been has been jailed over his years-long sexual abuse of a teenage girl nearly 20 years ago.

An “esteemed” former Ballarat karate coach and farmer has been jailed for up to eight and a half years over his repeated sexual abuse of a “naive” teenage girl nearly 20 years ago.

Lachlan Howard, 47, appeared briefly in the Melbourne County Court by video link from Hopkins Correctional Centre.

A jury found Howard, a divorced father-of-two teenage boys, guilty of indecency and child sex offences at a trial earlier this year, but he continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Judge Frank Gucciardo said Howard for years exploited the girl for his own sexual gratification.

The court heard the girl, now a grown woman, continues to suffer the irreparable and devastating affects of Howard’s offending, including flashbacks and feelings of worthlessness.

Howard was in his late 20s at the time and at one stage told the girl “I can’t wait until you’re legal”.

Sex offender Lachlan Howard was a life member of Ballarat Karate Club. Picture: Supplied

He also told the girl she “owed” him sexual favours, and that he would “have to kill” her if she told anyone about what he had done to her.

A diary the girl kept, with symbols indicated the sex acts Howard had inflicted upon her, was crucial to his conviction.

Dozens of referees, including Howard’s parents and former wife, vouched for his good character and his commitment to community causes around Ballarat.

Howard had been working as a manager on his family’s farming property until he was charged, but had to find a job elsewhere because it was leased to a not-for-profit group which let children on site.

He was also a life member of the Ballarat Karate Club, where he had been a member since the 1980s.

Judge Gucciardo described Howard’s crimes as “vile” and “repulsive”.

The victim was subject to “forceful” cross-examination at trial, and forced to “relive the offending … in graphic detail” during Howard’s legal team’s failed attempt to discredit the evidence she gave to the jury.

The victim said: “I feel grief for the life I should have had if I was not abused”.

After time served, Howard will be eligible for parole in October 2026.

He will be a registered sex offender for life.