Man jailed in Rockhampton court for sex attack on 10yo girl

A Central Queensland court has heard how a little girl began to cry after her ‘pop’ sexually abused her while her unknowing grandmother was also in the house. DISTRESSING CONTENT

A Central Queensland man has been jailed for his sexual abuse of a 10-year-old girl. Generic image.

A Central Queensland man has been jailed for his “deplorable” sexual abuse of a young girl.

The man in his 50s, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, pleaded guilty in the District Court at Rockhampton in May to one count each of wilfully exposing a child under 16 to an indecent photo, and indecently dealing with a child under 16 (domestic violence offending).

The court heard the victim was a 10-year-old girl who knew the man as “pop”.

“What happened here was that you took advantage of a young girl who was very well known to you,” Judge Jeff Clarke said.

The court heard the offending happened at the man’s Central Queensland residence while the young girl and her grandmother were visiting.

It was told the girl was in the kitchen when the man came in to get a drink.

While they were in there alone, the man showed the girl a photo of his penis on his mobile phone, the court heard.

The man then rubbed the girl’s genitals, inside of her underwear, the court was told.

Judge Clarke said the girl understandably became upset and the man told her: “Don’t tell anyone.”

The court heard the girl told her grandmother and another relative what had happened.

“And she was visibly upset and crying when she told them about it,” Judge Clarke said.

The court heard that when the grandmother asked the man what he had done to the girl, he “started to cry himself.”

Judge Clarke said the man’s “deplorable conduct” was a clear breach of trust to the young girl.

The court heard the man had a criminal history which included offences of dishonesty, drugs and violence, but he had no prior offending of this sort.

Judge Clarke noted the man had “significantly co-operated” with the criminal justice system in this matter and had saved the young victim from having to give evidence and be cross-examined.

Judge Clarke said he was prepared to accept the man was ashamed and remorseful for what he did.

The man was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, suspended after he serves four months (operational period of two years).

Judge Clarke declared nine days of pre-sentence custody as time served.

Originally published as Man jailed in Rockhampton court for sex attack on 10yo girl