Ipswich mother faces court for failing to report partner’s sexual offending against her children

An Ipswich mother has been punished for playing “happy family” with the father of her children for nearly a year after she discovered the shocking sexual abuse he had been subjecting their children to.

An Ipswich mother has been punished for playing “happy family” with the father of her children for nearly a year after she discovered the shocking sexual abuse he had been subjecting their children to.

An Ipswich mother chose to play “happy family” with a man who she knew had been sexually abusing their children, a court has heard.

The woman, in her 30s, pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to report her belief of a child sexual offence committed in relation to a child.

The Ipswich Magistrates Court heard the woman had failed to disclose knowledge, as soon as reasonably possible, that four of her children had been sexually abused by her partner – the children’s father.

Police prosecutor Nick Turnbull said one of the children had told the woman what was happening, but it had taken the woman nearly 12 months after that before she went to the police.

The woman had provided the child with “excuses” that they needed the father’s money, and that they needed to wait until after they moved house to come forward, the court heard.

“Just stating that they needed the father’s money at that time in effect puts a price of a child’s innocence,” said Sgt Turnbull.

“I do accept that the defendant may have had other reasons, but the real victims here are the children.”

The court heard at least one additional instance of sexual abuse had occurred in the time it took for the woman to come forward.

Magistrate Jason Schubert said the woman had “chosen to play happy family” until she learned about that additional instance, and then she went to police.

An Ipswich mother (black dress) chose to play “happy family” with a man who she knew had been sexually abusing their children, a court has heard.

Legal aid defence lawyer Madeline Jacks said her client had been in a relationship with the man for a significant period of time, and had been subjected to domestic violence at his hand throughout the relationship.

Ms Jacks said her client instructed she had had no financial control in the relationship, that she hadn't been “allowed” to go out by herself or speak to other men, and that he had physically and sexually abused her.

She said the man had made admissions to his client about the sexual offending against the children, but had “promised” her he had stopped.

“Her partner told her at the time that she was a failure and that she would fail without him, that she would not survive without him,” Ms Jacks said.

“She instructs feeling so much regret and remorse for not coming forward earlier – particularly now when she knows she’s capable of doing everything on her own.”

The court heard the woman still had custody of all her children, and was seeking various support for them all.

Ms Jacks said recording a conviction or sentencing the woman to jail would only impede her efforts to support her family.

Mr Schubert said the woman’s circumstances at the time may explain her offending, but that they didn’t excuse it.

“Had you reported the issues when they were known to you, it would have prevented further abuse of at least one of the children,” he said.

He sentenced the woman to 12 months probation, with no convictions recorded.

Originally published as Ipswich mother faces court for failing to report partner’s sexual offending against her children