List of Central Qlders guilty of sexual offences named

WARNING GRAPHIC: Central Queensland has been home to opportunistic and selfish sexual offences over the years but sadly, conviction rates have not risen in line with other regions. See who’s been convicted. FULL LIST

Central Queensland has been home to opportunistic and selfish sexual offences over the years but sadly, conviction rates for those who take advantage of their victims have not risen in line with other regions.

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Sexual crimes still remain chronically underreported as victims often feel the justice system won’t do anything, they won’t be believed, or may be fearful of shame.

According to the Queensland Sexual Assault Network, about 75 per cent of sexual assaults aren’t reported.

Further, sexual offences can be difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt to a court without video, DNA or eyewitness evidence.

Unfortunately, fewer than one in five sexual assault and rape survivors who report the incident to the police have their perpetrators convicted.

But the wind of change has been blowing in recent years with more brave survivors willing to tell their stories of sexual abuse and report the incidents to the police.

Statewide, Queensland Police statistics show sexual offence charges have been steadily rising since 2011 with 4952 charges then and 7121 in 2020.

However in Capricornia, there hasn’t been much of a change in sexual offence charges in the past 10 years, and 2021 had the least charges at 388, the lowest since 2013.

These statistics reflect police charges only and don’t reflect convictions, where a defendant has pleaded guilty or has been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a court.

Here is a list of nine sexual offenders convicted in Gladstone, Rockhampton and across Central Queensland:

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5. Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

Katrina Louise Harrington – 2x unlawful carnal knowledge of person with an impairment of the mind

The 39-year-old Gladstone disability support worker took advantage of a man in her care and lured him to her house for sex.

Breaching her strict rules of employment, Harrington drove him from a park to her house and had unprotected sex with him, and she did the same the next day too.

But Harrington was busted when another support worker saw her creepy messages on his phone.

Judge Jeff Clarke said he noticed the victim became upset when telling a police officer that he wanted what everyone would want – for his first sexual experience to be with someone who they had a sense of attachment and she had ‘robbed him of that’.

Harrington pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of a person with an impairment of the mind, after the prosecution gave their case in the Gladstone District Court.

Judge Clarke sentenced her to four years imprisonment, suspended after 16 months with the balance suspended for five years.

FULL STORY

Andrew Thomas Coyne – Rape

When a young woman’s boyfriend took a shower at the Criterion Hotel in Rockhampton, Coyne opportunistically raped her until she woke up and pushed him off.

She woke up on her back with her knees pulled up so they were close to her chest and legs bent.

His defence solicitor Doug Winning told the court Coyne was intoxicated.

Judge Michael Burnett said the fact that Coyne went to trial was evident there was an absence of remorse.

The Court of Appeal heard there was DNA evidence in this case and the boyfriend saw Coyne on the bed.

Coyne was found guilty of rape in the Rockhampton District Court in February 2020, had his appeal denied in May 2021 and was sentenced to six years imprisonment with parole eligibility on February 23, 2023.

FULL STORY

Nicholas John Turner – Rape

The then-26-year-old father took advantage of a heavily intoxicated woman by carrying her from a couch into his bedroom.

Falling in and out of conscious, the woman heard Turner mention her name a few times and was moved into different positions before he ejaculated in her during the unprotected rape, the Rockhampton District Court heard.

She could see Turner when the lights were on and the woman texted another man who took her to the hospital.

The court heard he tried to destroy evidence by washing his bedsheets.

Turner pleaded guilty to rape and was sentenced to six years imprisonment and will be eligible for parole on January 11, 2023. He had already served 19 days.

“From the submissions made on your behalf, you have excellent prospects of rehabilitation,” Judge Clarke said.

“You must treat women with respect.”

Cody John Lisle – Sexual Assault

Cody John Lisle pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

After the Emerald refrigeration mechanic ended up in a Gladstone unit with three other people, his victim fell asleep drunk on a couch.

He lay on top of her with his hands on her neck and was rubbing his body against her.

The woman told him to stop and Lisle complied.

“She was in no state to be consenting and was not consenting to that sexual activity,” Crown prosecutor Kate Millbourne said.

“She has clearly felt violated as a result and the impact on her has been profound.”

His defence barrister Simone Bain said Lisle was off his medication.

He pleaded guilty in the Gladstone District Court to one count of sexual assault and was sentenced to a 12 month suspended prison sentence to hang over his head for 2 years.

“There’s a need for real education and for people to be aware you do not attempt to engage anyone in a sexual nature unless it’s with their full awareness and with their full consent,” Judge Craig Chowdhury said.

FULL STORY

William James Alberts – Rape

He digitally raped a woman in her own bed while children were in the house on March 7, 2020.

The Rockhampton District Court heard that on the night, Alberts had gotten back on alcohol, marijuana and Valium.

Judge Clarke determined Alberts should get ‘special leniency’ because of his acknowledgment of wrongdoing at an early stage.

“Very commonly, people seek to deny offending such as this,” Judge Clarke said.

“Here, you have spared the complainant the indignity of having to be troubled about giving evidence, or indeed having her version of events.”

Alberts pleaded guilty to rape and was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment with parole eligibility on March 7, 2021. He had already served 278 days in custody.

Willie Joe Cambourn – Sexual Assault

Willie Joe Cambourn, 27, was this week found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub on August 5, 2018.

The 27-year-old Dalby boilermaker put his hand under a woman’s skirt and touched her underwear near her genitalia at a Central Queensland nightclub.

The Rockhampton District Court heard he was intoxicated at the time.

“I’ve never been sexually assaulted before and never thought I would,” the brave victim said.

“This event has caused me to feel anxious and uncomfortable in social situations.”

Cambourn was found guilty of sexual assault after taking the matter to a trial by jury, and was sentenced to nine months in jail, suspended after four months for a year and a half.

FULL STORY

Justin James Blackman – Rape

The day after his own mother’s funeral, the then-38-year-old had consumed methylamphetamine, alcohol and marijuana and digitally raped and violently assaulted a woman, the Gladstone District Court heard.

At one point, he hit the victim’s face and pushed her onto a bed.

Later, he told her he’d stab her if anyone entered the bedroom. She then became ill.

“It was obvious to you, and it would have been obvious to you at all times that she was not consenting to this behaviour; she simply wanted to be left alone to go to sleep,” Judge Michael Burnett said.

Blackman pleaded guilty to common assault and rape and was sentenced to 18 months probation and three and a half years imprisonment suspended after 313 days for five years. He had already served the 313 days in pre-sentence custody.

“Plainly, when you are not taking drugs, you appear to be able to live a relatively lawful existence,” Judge Burnett said.

Originally published as List of Central Qlders guilty of sexual offences named