Man pleaded guilty to maintaining sexual relationship with his sister, rape and indecent treatment of a child over a five-year period

A young man who raped and maintained a sexual relationship with his younger sister was supported in court by his mother when he entered his guilty pleas.

A young man who raped and maintained a sexual relationship with his younger sister was supported in court by his mother when he entered his guilty pleas.

The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty last week in Rockhampton District Court to three counts of rape, one of maintaining a sexual relationship, four indecent treatment of a child, one carnal knowledge and one obstruct police.

The offences took place between March 2015 and April 2020 in the Rockhampton region with the man being charged in January 2021.

Defence barrister Ross Lo Monaco said his client had self-harmed and attempted suicide when he was charged with the offending.

He said the defendant had undertaken the assessments to test his mental capacity to stand trial, which he passed, however, after his mother revealed he had sustained head trauma as a toddler, had suffered seizures ever since and was “slower than the other kids” his age, questions had been raised about his cognitive abilities.

He said he had already made inquiries to get that done, but the sentencing would have to adjourned while waiting for the assessment and report.

“He readily accepts he will be incarcerated,” Mr Lo Monaco said.

He said the victim was the defendant’s younger sister and their mother, who was in court, was supporting both of her children.

Mr Lo Monaco said the prosecution and defence were “miles apart” on what they thought the man’s sentence should be – up to six years difference.

Judge Jeff Clarke said he had questions about whether the defendant would be a risk of reoffending.

He said there was one psychologist who had conducted assessments and written reports in the past who specialised in sex offenders and he found those reports very informative.

Judge Clarke ordered a presentence report, including an assessment and report written by the specialist, and remanded the young man in custody until his sentence in the second half of May.

Originally published as Man pleaded guilty to maintaining sexual relationship with his sister, rape and indecent treatment of a child over a five-year period