Wayne Phillips: Gippsland man jailed for sexually abusing five children

A former spray painter from Gippsland threatened to stop buying his child victims toys if they told their parents he was sexually abusing them.

A former spray painter has been jailed for 16 years after he sexually abused five children who he bought gifts and McDonald's so they would keep his “secret”.

Wayne Phillips, 53 of central Gippsland, was sentenced in the County Court on Wednesday over 18 charges of sexual assault and sexual penetration of children under the age of 16 and 12.

The court heard, the victims were aged between five and nine and the offending happened over a year.

Phillips repeatedly told his victims not to tell anyone, saying it was their “secret” and it would make “adults angry” if they found out.

He would take his victims to Kmart to buy toys, as well as McDonald’s, and would abuse them when they returned to his home, a country town in Gippsland.

Phillips then threatened to stop buying them toys if they told anyone.

The court heard his 7-year-old victim refused to tell her mum because she didn't want to get him “into trouble”.

On one occasion Phillips penetrated a girl up to 30 times.

Judge Amanda Chambers said Phillips must have known his offending was “extremely wrong” as he breached the trust of children and their parents.

“Children repose enormous trust in adults ... this offending fundamentally breached that relation of trust,” she said.

“You betrayed that trust for your own sexual gratification.”

The judge also said he provided the girls with “inducements, including toys and gifts to facilitate the offending and prevent disclosure”.

When Phillips was assessed in custody, he said the only physical contact he had with the children was when they needed help washing their hands.

The court also heard he said the kids “could have been coached by their mother” in order to obtain money or housing.

Despite his denial of guilt Phillips said he would comply with any reporting and treatment conditions in order to help with parole or “a shorter sentence”.

He will be eligible in ten years and has already served 768 days behind bars.