Anthony Frendo: Gippsland man jailed for sexually abusing three children

A retired fireman from country Victoria sexually abused three children over a decade, asking one of his victims to come “play a game”.

A retired fireman from country Victoria has been jailed for 14 years after he sexually abused three children, one as young as four, and showed “no remorse”, a court has heard.

Anthony Frendo, 75 of Gippsland, was sentenced in County Court on Wednesday after he earlier pleaded guilty to sexually penetrating three children under the age of 16.

The court heard Frendo abused the kids multiple times over a decade, dating back to the early 2000s, despite their protests and denied the offending when asked by police.

The abuse started when a victim stayed at his house and his wife was at bingo.

He took the then eight-year-old to bed to “play a game” then touched and sexually abused her.

The details of his offending are too horrific to publish but the court heard Frendo told the girl to “not cry” and to not tell anyone.

In a victim impact statement she said she was scared to sleep in case her attacker appeared in her dreams.

“Anthony shows up in my dreams, then I feel angry for the rest of the day. I feel sick and afraid to go back to sleep,” she said.

She said he ruined her childhood and struggled to see “any joy in life”.

“I wish I could remember my childhood being happy, carefree and safe but I remember it being far from that,” the victim said.

While she read her statement, Frendo was seen in court “shaking his head”.

The court also heard his youngest victim could not play with other kids because she has “thoughts in her head” she can’t get rid of.

A victim impact statement from the victim’s mother said she won’t wear “pretty clothes or hair ties” because she doesn’t like the attention.

“She says it makes her feel unsafe when people pay her attention,” the mum said.

His third victim, who has autism, now suffers from anxiety and takes anti-anxiety medication.

A victim impact statement from his mother said he doesn’t understand why an adult would hurt a child.

Her son told her “(he) did not stop when I asked”.

“He has experienced major interruption to his sleep patterns, cannot concentrate and finds himself angry all the time.”

Judge John Smallwood said Frendo did not deserve mercy and had shown “no remorse”.

“While a victim impact statement was read out, you were shaking your head as if the things that were being said were untrue,” he said.

The judge added Frendo didn’t “acknowledge” the “disgraceful” things he did to his victims.

“The consequences extend way out from simply you and your self-induced position,” he said.

As the judge directed Frendo to the cell, the accused protested and said “it’s all false and lies”.

“You are a criminal and an old man and you’ve got a very severe sentence and you deserve every second of it Mr Frendo,” Judge Smallwood said.

Frendo will be eligible for parole in 2032.