John Glennon, nephew of pedophile priest Michael Glennon, guilty of child sex offences

The nephew of one of the nation’s worst pedophiles was “brazen” in his sexual touching of a young girl, who looked up to him “like a father figure” before he betrayed her, a court has been told.

The nephew of notorious pedophile Michael Glennon — who once bashed his predator priest uncle alongside other family members — has himself been convicted of child sex offences.

John Bernard Glennon, 56, avoided an immediate prison term on Monday after he was found guilty by a jury of two counts of committing an indecent act with a 12-year-old girl.

The County Court heard his “brazen” sexual touching of the girl occured as she lay watching TV, and that Glennon had “laughed” as she ran away after he committed his first crime.

Another time, the victim was preyed upon while she watched TV surrounded by friends, who were visiting to celebrate her 13th birthday.

The victim told the court how the betrayal by a man she looked up to “like a father figure” meant that a young and bright girl failed to reach her potential, suffering mental torment, self-harm and nightmares that continue to this day.

Michael Glennon’s nephew, John Glennon, leaves the County Court. Picture: Supplied

Handed two years’ jail, wholly suspended, Glennon’s sentence comes after his defence barrister, Alexander Patton, claimed he would be more vulnerable in prison because of “his family member” — one of the nation’s worst pedophiles, who died in jail in 2014.

Michael Glennon was a Catholic priest who abused at least 15 children — one aged as young as seven.

For exposing his prior convictions before a trial in the 1980s, broadcaster Derryn Hinch was jailed for contempt of court.

Around the same time, the pedophile was beaten by members of his own family, including his nephew, John.

The court heard “there was a confrontation that led to an assault” started by a family member, and that others then joined in.

John Glennon faced Preston Magistrates’ Court over that assault on his uncle in the mid-1980s.

Former priest and convicted child sex offender Michael Glennon leaves court in 1992. Picture: Supplied

He returned to court in October for his indecent assault trial, where the landscaper was asked whether he was sexually assaulted by his uncle, but he said he had no memory of being abused.

He had faced three counts of indecent assault against the girl, aged 12 and 13, in offences spanning four months, but was ultimately convicted by a jury of two of those counts.

On Monday, his victim told Judge Fran Dalziel, “I trusted him, cared about him and valued our friendship”.

“Unfortunately, he betrayed that,” she said.

The young woman said she would “continue to fight these demons and horrible voices in my mind and try and learn from the tragedy that has happened to me”.

“They say the saddest thing about betrayal is that it rarely comes from your enemies. I have certainly learnt that the hard way.”

Michael Glennon abused at least 15 children — one aged as young as seven.

Prosecutor Sandra MacDougall had called for an immediate term of imprisonment for the offences that were “inherently serious”.

But Mr Patton asked for a suspended sentence, noting a psychologist had found his client was a “low risk of future sexual offending”.

The defence barrister said Glennon had been a lifelong sportsman, involved in football, cricket and karate clubs and been a volunteer in community charity organisations and Rosebud CFA.

Since he had been charged, he had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression.

Judge Dalziel found that the “only available sentence” was one of a term of imprisonment given the seriousness of the crime, as considered by the community.

Her Honour handed down a total two-year jail term, which would be wholly suspended, and warned Glennon that he would be breaching that suspended sentence if he reoffended in any way.

Glennon continues to profess his innocence and made no comment outside court.

The maximum penalty for indecent act with a child is 10 years in jail.

He will be listed on the sex offender’s register for 15 years.