Ex-Pies cheer squad’s Jeffrey ‘Joffa’ Corfe avoids immediate jail term over child sex abuse

The daughter of ex-Magpies cheer squad leader Jeffrey “Joffa” Corfe insists her father is a “man of integrity” as he avoided jail after sexually abusing a teenage boy.

The daughter of Jeffrey “Joffa” Corfe has thrown her support behind her dad, declaring he is “a good man”.

Ms Corfe made the statement, tendered to the County Court, to show her support for her father ahead of his sentence on Monday.

The former Collingwood cheer squad leader has avoided an immediate jail term for luring a teenage boy to his home and sexually abusing him.

But if the Pies superfan steps out of line in the next two years then he risks being locked up behind bars.

Emma Corfe, 36, recalled how it had “broken my heart” to see her father’s mental health deteriorate when he was charged with child sexual abuse.

Jeffery Corfe was sentenced in the County Court to a 12-month jail term, but it was wholly suspended for two years. Picture: Getty Images

“My dad is a good man. A man of his word. A man of integrity,” Ms Corfe said.

“I can truthfully say my dad’s life has been one of helping others.

“My dad does not have much. He’s not wealthy and he lives a very simple life.

“Yet he’s never turned anyone away that needed a helping hand.”

“I consider myself very blessed and fortunate to call myself the daughter of Jeffrey Corfe,” she said.

“Not only is he my dad, he truly is my best friend.

“He’s always gone above and beyond for me and my children — his four grandchildren.

“He’s worked hard his whole life to ensure that we’ve had the best opportunities available to us and always taught us the values of respect and kindness to which he has led by example.”

When she was diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager, Corfe became a vocal advocate for the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria, she said.

Father Bob Maguire also provided a character reference for Corfe, who he had known for about 20 years.

“Joffa was a great support to my foundation in caring for the needs of the less fortunate,” Father Maguire said.

“I am also aware of Joffa’s community compassion. I offer my unconditional support to Joffa.”

Collingwood Cheer Squad legend Jeff ‘Joffa’ Corfe became a familiar face at the Pies’ games. Picture: David Caird

Corfe, 62, was sentenced in the County Court on Monday to a 12-month jail term, but it was wholly suspended for two years.

Judge Gerard Mullaly condemned his crime, telling Corfe he put his own sexual gratification first in exploiting the then 14-year-old at his Coburg home in January 2005.

“Any sexual offending against a child is serious criminality,” Judge Mullaly said.

“There is no doubt the victim has suffered because of what you did.

“The age difference in this case was significant.

“You were the adult and shouldn’t have exploited the victim’s immaturity.

“Instead, you put your own sexual gratification above anything else.”

He said Corfe, then 44, lied about his age when messaging with the teen on MSN messenger in late 2004 and early 2005.

“You knew from what the victim had told you about his age that he was too young to lawfully engage in sexual activity,” Judge Mullaly said.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerri Judd, KC, is expected to review the case to determine if an appeal of the sentence will be pursued.

The prosecution had pushed for Corfe to be jailed, with a non-parole period set.

An Office of Public Prosecution spokesman said they would not comment on the outcome of Corfe’s case.

“But we review all sentences imposed in matters prosecuted by our office as a matter of course,” he said.

Joffa Corfe arrives at the County Court. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Joffa’s daughter has described him as a ‘good man’. Picture: Mark Stewart

Corfe was using the pseudonym “David” when he contacted his victim.

He quickly turned the conversations sexual.

“Hey sexy,” Corfe would write to the boy, before asking him to meet up so he could “give you good head job in car”.

“I like giving head,” he would tell the teen.

“If you know a good, quiet place we can meet … as long as it’s quiet and no one can see us.”

On January 29, 2005, the teenage boy went to Corfe’s Ross St home where he was lured into a dark room and sexually abused.

Afterwards, his victim ran home, before sending Corfe a message: “Why did you do that? You shouldn’t do that to young people.”

Corfe, who was then aged 44 but told his victim he was 30, replied: “Yeah, I shouldn’t.”

Judge Mullaly said it was this message that indicated Corfe knew what he had done was wrong.

The court heard the abuse was an “anomaly in an otherwise law abiding life”.

Corfe had planned to fight the charges and go to trial, but in November he pleaded guilty to sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16.

Judge Mullaly told him if he had continued to trial and was found guilty, he would not have got such a merciful sentence.

He indicated, in that case, he would have jailed him for two years and four months.