Mackay region man charged with rape, indecent treatment of a child under 12

A father accused of vile offending against children, including one under 12 years old, has made an abrupt decision about his case.

A father accused of vile offending against children will have his matters finalised in Mackay District Court.

A father accused of vile offending against young children has flipped on his “strident opposition” of the charges as the matter is listed for sentence in Mackay District Court.

The charges are in relation to alleged offending at a home south of Mackay.

He was arrested in March 2022 and has remained in custody on remand.

Two of his sons have already been jailed for their involvement in offending against children.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with rape, indecent treatment of a child under 12 and permitting abuse of child under 16 on premises.

Matters were mentioned briefly on Friday when Justice Michael Byrne said, “I was told (he) might be weakening in his strident opposition to the charges”.

Solicitor Peter Clark, of Strutynski Law for the man, said his client had given instructions the case would now proceed as a sentence.

“There some fine tuning of the schedule required still,” Mr Clark said.

Matters will be finalised next week.

Originally published as Mackay region man charged with rape, indecent treatment of a child under 12