Palmerston man sentenced for act of gross indecency upon girl in his home

A girl has described her ongoing trauma after being sexually abused by her father-figure. Read why he may walk free in less than six months. Warning: Distressing

A father-figure to a 12-year-old girl could walk free in less than six months after being sentenced for a “sexually depraved” assault on her during a movie night.

The Palmerston man, now aged 35, was sentenced to three years in prison suspended after 12 months and backdated to February after a jury found him guilty of gross indecency upon a child.

During the Supreme Court trial it was revealed the man had been living in the same home as his victim for several months before the offending, helping care for her and her siblings.

On the night of June 27 last year the girl was watching a movie in the lounge room with her sister who had fallen asleep.

The man entered and said “we only have a few minutes in here” before touching her, exposing her bottom, and rubbing her with his genitalia.

In a victim impact statement the girl said she wanted to see him go to jail “for a very long time”.

“I relive the fear I went through and have flashbacks of feeling hopeless and alone,” her statement said.

“I stayed awake at night in fear of when he would come back and hurt me again.

“I struggle to go to school and focus on my learning, I hold a lot of shame. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I have been through.”

During sentencing Justice John Reeves said the man’s “brazen” assault took advantage of a vulnerable, naive child.

“Your conduct involved both a very serious breach of trust in your adopted role, and it destroyed the security (the girl) was entitled to expect when she was living in her family home,” Justice Reeves said.

“Your sexually depraved conduct sullied her innocence as a child and likely left her with long-term psychological scars.”

The court heard the man, who moved to the Territory in 2018, had an extensive criminal history in South Australia and Queensland.

Justice Reeves said the father-of-one claimed to be clean from a heavy meth addiction in his 20s, but continued to use cannabis daily.

“It is clear from the evidence that your mother gave during your sentencing hearing that you have caused your parents and your siblings an enormous amount of distress throughout your life,” he said.

The man’s suspended sentence included conditions banning him from contacting the victim, leaving the Territory, or using drugs or alcohol.