Scott Denham, 45, found guilty in County Court to widespread sexual abuse of three young girls

A Cobram child molester who abused three young girls during a reign of terror has sooked that he feels “threatened and intimidated” in jail.

Scott Graeme Denham, 45, appeared via video link from Ravenhall Correctional Centre, where he has been for the past month.

A Cobram sex offender who abused three young girls during a years’ long reign of terror claims he feels “threatened and intimidated” in jail, a court has heard.

Scott Graeme Denham, 45, appeared via video link from Ravenhall Correctional Centre, where he has been for the past month.

Denham was found guilty of 16 sexual abuse charges between 2001 and 2015, including one act of sexual penetration with a child under 16 by a jury in Shepparton earlier this year.

The offending occurred at Wendouree, Streatham, Donald and Cobram.

Child molester Scott Denham appeared in the Melbourne County Court, having been found guilty of 16 sexual assault charges. Pictured: Supplied

Prosecutor Andrew McKenry read out three harrowing victim impact statements.

The first victim impact statement spoke about how “Scott ruined my life” and the “suicidal thoughts” she suffered from the abuse.

The statement also spoke about how Denham’s offending had affected her sexual relationship with her husband, and that she became “addicted to work” so she didn’t have to think about the suffering she went through.

“The impact will live with me for the rest of my life”, the statement read.

The second victim impact statement spoke of the negative impact Denham’s offending had on her mental health, as well as her lack of trust in men.

“The only time I will have a one-on-one conversation with a male is when I’ve met them before in a group”, the statement read.

The statement finished saying, “I hope my daughter does not have to endure “monsters like Scott … Scott has left scars that will forever be present in my life”.

The third victim impact statement said “I don’t want any other little girl to go through what I went through”.

Mr McKenry told the court that Denham was a “serious sex offender”.

Cobram's Scott Denham sexually abused three young girls. Picture: Instagram

Denham’s lawyer Tanya Skvortsova said the offending was “13 discreet incidents” that occurred over a period of 14 years.

Ms Skvortsova said that it was accepted the offending was serious, but noted her client had no prior criminal history.

Ms Skvortsova said the sentencing should be affected by “the intervening period of delay” with some of the offending occurring over two decades ago, and the last of the offending occurring in 2015, “almost a decade ago”.

Ms Skvortsova also noted that the process to find Denham guilty took three years, which should be taken into account when sentencing him.

Three harrowing victim statements were read out in court by the prosecution. Picture: Supplied

Ms Skvortsova told the court that Denham felt his mental health was “a pressure cooker” as the Cobram community was “disgusted” by the news, leaving him sitting inside for days unwilling to leave the house.

Ms Skvortsova also said he has tried to commit suicide twice in the lead-up to the trial.

The court heard Denham was born in Melbourne and had been in “steady and regular employment” since he was 16.

The court heard Denham has a new wife and a son.

Ms Skvortsova told the court that Denham lived in Cobram from 2009 to 2021, working for a construction company, and also noted that Denham was heavily involved in the Yarroweyah Football Netball Club.

Scott Denham, 45, has been found guilty of sexually abusing three young girls for a period that lasted over a decade. Picture: Supplied

Ms Skvortsova hoped the sentence would not be “so crushing” that Denham would not see his during “his key formative years”.

The court heard Denham “has felt threatened and intimidated” by others in prison.

The defence argued Denham was “a moderate to low risk” of reoffending.

Judge Michael Cahill told Ms Skvortsova “I have heard nothing from you on the question of remorse”, to which she replied “Mr Denham has not wavered on his opinion”, referring to Denham’s stance that he was not guilty.

“The absence of remorse really makes it difficult to take a stance on Mr Denham’s prospects of rehabilitation”, Judge Cahill said.

Ms Skvortsova said she hoped that Judge Cahill would sentence Denham to a jail term of fewer than 10 years.

Mr McKenry said the Crown’s position on sentencing was based on “the impact of the betrayal that Mr Denham committed” on his victims.

Judge Cahill will sentence Denham on Tuesday, April 30 at the Mildura County Court.