Child sex offender Vaughan David Morrison, 29, found secretly living with kids, working at meatworks

A rekindled relationship with a mother on an online dating app led to a Central Queensland man committing more offences at the Sunshine Coast. Full details here.

A man has faced a Central Queensland court for failing to comply with reporting obligations under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting) Act. Generic image.

A child sex offender was found secretly living with kids at a Sunshine Coast property while working in the region, in a breach of strict child protection laws.

Central Queensland man Vaughan David Morrison, 29, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on May 11 to seven charges of failing to comply with reporting obligations under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting) Act.

The court heard that Morrison is a registered child sex offender and he is subject to reporting conditions under the Act for five years - until March 30, 2023.

The court was told that these offences happened between December 1 last year and January 22 this year.

The seven offences were failing to report contact with a child (four counts), failing to report participation in an online social networking site, failing to report residential premises, and failing to report employment.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said under the Act, reportable offenders must report details of any social networking sites they join, participate in, or contribute to - including registering or opening an account.

Sgt Ongheen said information was received that Morrison engaged in conversation with a female through a social networking dating application, starting on December 29 last year.

Sgt Ongheen said the female stated she first met Morrison on the dating application about two years ago.

“A review of the national child offenders system revealed that the social networking site was not reported to police,” Sgt Ongheen said.

The prosecutor said the system also showed that Morrison was residing in Alma Street, Biloela, but the female Morrison had been speaking to on the dating app said that he was residing with her at Beerburrum Road, Elimbah, from January 7 this year to January 31.

Sgt Ongheen said Morrison had not reported that change of address as required.

The court heard that children lived at the Elimbah residence and Morrison had not reported contact with them, as obligated to under the Act.

Sgt Ongheen said Morrison had also not reported his employment as required.

“He (Morrison) had been working at the Kilcoy meatworks during his stay at that (Elimbah) residence,” Sgt Ongheen said.

The prosecutor said Morrison had attended the Caboolture police station on February 5 this year where he participated in an interview.

Morrison told police that he was working as a labourer for the Kilcoy Global Foods group, Sgt Ongheen said.

“During the interview he (Morrison) contacted his employer and was informed that he commenced that employment with them on 24 November, 2021,” Sgt Ongheen said.

Sgt Ongheen tendered a criminal history to the court, saying Morrison had previously been sentenced for similar offending “on multiple occasions.”

Sgt Ongheen said Morrison was last sentenced in Biloela Magistrates Court on May 13, 2020, for three failing to comply with reporting conditions charges, and he received three months’ jail with a parole release date of June 13, 2020.

Solicitor Richard Parks represented Morrison who appeared in court on May 11 via a video link.

Mr Parks said Morrison was currently incarcerated for failing to report, following proceedings in Rockhampton Magistrates Court.

At that point, Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale said an updated criminal history would be required.

Mr Parks said the first charge that “started the ball rolling” for Morrison stemmed from him talking to a young person on the internet who happened to be a police officer.

Mr Parks said Morrison was born at Nambour and he attended school at Beerwah until Year 9.

He said Morrison went to Biloela High School in Year 10, did a bakery apprenticeship and was later employed at a meatworks at Biloela, a meatworks at Ipswich, then back to Biloela.

In relation to Morrison’s move to Elimbah, Mr Parks said his client had advised his parole officer that he was going there but Morrison had not completed the required steps under the Act.

“He was staying at a Kilcoy motel down there,” Mr Parks said.

“He met this person (female) a long time ago on (social media), I think it was some two years ago.

“He rekindled the relationship with her - she had children.

“He attended her house - it was two houses on the property.

“There were two houses on the property where her daughters and grandchildren lived in the house on the same parcel of land. So they were still there and they visited the house where he would stay from time-to-time with his girlfriend, for want of a better term.”

Mr Parks submitted that Morrison’s repeat offending in relation to reporting conditions was due to his mental state.

“He just doesn’t seem to have, and I’m sorry Vaughan, but ... he has no understanding of time frames etc, etc,” Mr Parks said.

“And I understand that his mother, when he is finally released... he will be living with his mother... will sit down and set aside his times that he has to report.

“Because all his offences have been reporting.

“He had a very, very serious drug problem at that time - he was a drug addict on meth. A very serious problem. Got himself into this position with this young person on the internet where all his first problems arose.

“He just has this mental capacity - if you read the doctor’s report there, Your Honour, it speaks for itself.

“But I believe that this dig in incarceration, he has really learnt what it’s all about.”

Mr Parks said Morrison had been “clean of drugs for quite some time now”.

“And he’s been in jail now for two months.”

These matters had to be adjourned until the following day so that the updated criminal history could be produced.

When the proceedings re-commenced on May 12 before Ms Beckinsale who was sitting in Yeppoon Magistrates Court, Morrison again appeared via video link from custody.

Before handing down penalty, Ms Beckinsale noted that Morrison had previous terms of imprisonment for these sorts of breaches.

“You’ve had eight previous breaches, contraventions of the legislation, and here you are on another seven offences,” she said.

“Your problem is that you are not comprehending or following through with what the legislative requirements are of you - they are very onerous, but there are good reasons for making them so onerous.”

Ms Beckinsale declared Morrison had served 89 days in pre-sentence custody.

She sentenced him to three months’ jail with immediate parole.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Child sex offender Vaughan David Morrison, 29, found secretly living with kids, working at meatworks