Scott Graeme Denham sentenced in County Court to 12 years jail for sex offending

A Cobram child molester whose 14 years of vile offending included assaulting one of his victims at the local pub has learnt his fate.

Scott Graeme Denham, 45, was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

A Cobram child molester whose 14 years of vile offending included assaulting one of his victims at the local pub has learnt his fate.

Scott Graeme Denham, 45, was sentenced to 12 years in jail after he 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 on February 9 earlier this year.

In one instance, Denham touched one of his victim’s vaginas as she attempted to get out from the table at the Cobram Hotel.

In another, Denham placed strawberry topping on his penis before forcing his victim to lick it off.

One of the victims said Denham was “very persuasive” and that if she did not do as he asked, it would feel like “punishment”.

Cobram's Scott Denham sexually abused three young girls from 2001 to 2015. Picture: Instagram

Denham’s offending — which took place in Wendouree, Streatham, Donald and Cobram —was reported to the police in September 2019.

Denham denied the allegations when interviewed by police in July 2020, a position he maintained at trial as he argued the girls had given “false evidence”.

However, Judge Michael Cahill said all three victims were impressive witnesses throughout the trial and Denham’s crimes had caused long-term harm to the victims.

The court heard Denham grew up in the northwestern suburbs of Melbourne and was the youngest of three children.

In his sentencing, Judge Cahill said he would take the hardship that would be felt by Denham’s parents, wife and sons into account, but said “for that, you only have yourself to blame”.

The court heard Denham had contemplated suicide during his time in prison.

Scott Denham was sentenced in the Melbourne County Court. Picture: Supplied

Appearing via video link from the Ravenhall Correctional Centre, the 45-year-old’s arms were folded as he stared blankly as Judge Cahill read out his sentence.

Denham’s wife also watched the proceedings from the link, having supported him throughout the Shepparton trial.

All three of Denham’s victims also tuned in to watch the sentencing.

Denham’s lawyer Tanya Skvortsova submitted he should be sentenced to less than 10 years in jail because he had no prior criminal record and was a low to moderate risk of reoffending.

But in sentencing the sex offender to 12 years, with a non-parole period of eight and a half years, Judge Cahill said the offending was “extremely serious” and it did not occur in isolation.

Outside of court, a victim told the Herald Sun they were “very happy" with the outcome.

Denham has already served 89 days in pre-sentenced detention.