Paul Dawson fronts court over a string of sexual abuse of boys

A grub whose horrific sexual and physical abuse of two boys over nearly a decade was laid bare at a jury trial where he described his victims as “compulsive liars”.

Victoria man Paul Dawson has been jailed for historical sexual abuse of two boys spanning nearly a decade.

An unrepentant Victoria man found guilty of horrific sexual abuse of two boys over nearly a decade has been jailed for 25 years.

Paul Dawson was sentenced in the County Court on Tuesday to a minimum of 18 years’ jail after a jury found him guilty in July on 18 charges, including indecent act on a child under 16.

Judge Michael McInerney said the brutality with which he treated the two children aged under 16 between the years 1999 and 2009 was “unbelievable”.

Dawson told one of the boys before sexually abusing him that if he didn’t do what he wanted, his disappearance would be arranged by Dawson’s friends.

He told another child to keep his criminal acts a secret and that they both would be dead if anyone found out about it.

The mental and psychological toll from Dawson’s offending, the judge said, had been huge and that one of the victims became suicidal in recent years.

Judge McInerney said Dawson took the matter to trial and described his victims as “compulsive liars”.

Paul Dawson will spend at least 18 years in jail for the historical sexual abuse of two boys.

“Actually, I consider the reality here is Mr Dawson is a person who is very active sexually. He was keen to be involved in sexual activity whenever, whenever and with whom he can achieve it,’’ he said.

“He’s happy to take any opportunity for his own sexual gratification. He has such overwhelming control and capacity for psychological coercion of young children,” Judge McInerney said.