Hervey Bay man released ‘absolutely’ after pleading guilty to child abuse

Years after he sexually assaulted a child, a Hervey Bay man was charged. Now, a court has revealed why he has been allowed to walk away without punishment.

The incidents involved the man’s step sister, who was aged 6 and 7 at the time.

A man who sexually assaulted a child when he was a teenager was released absolutely with no convictions recorded when he faced Hervey Bay District Court.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent dealing of a child when he faced court.

The man was now 22, but the offending had happened when he was 16 and 17, the court was told.

He had spent four months in custody because he had failed to make a court appearance, but he would not have spent time in prison if he had been sentenced when he was a child, the court heard.

The incidents involved the man’s stepsister, who was aged 6 and 7 at the time.

The court heard the then-teen had touched the girl inappropriately while they were riding a tractor, then yelled and swore at her when she tried to get away.

In a second incident, he had exposed his genitalia, then threw sticks at the girl when she managed to run away.

The court heard the man was illiterate and had ongoing issues with drug addiction.

He was supported in court by his brother.

Judge Suzanne Sheridan said because the crimes had been committed when the man was a child, she must follow different principles when it came to sentencing him.

She said he would not have received a prison sentence if he had been sentenced in children’s court at the time of the offending.

He had spent 127 days in custody after he missed a court appearance and a warrant was issued.

The man was released absolutely with no convictions recorded.

Originally published as Hervey Bay man released ‘absolutely’ after pleading guilty to child abuse