Victims speak of impact of Brett Leroy Richard’s rapes and indecent treatment acts on their mental health

DISTRESSING CONTENT: Five brave victims who were sexually abused by a Rockhampton sports coach have shared the harrowing aftermath on their lives.

Five girls were abused by the sports coach. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)

A victim of a predator sporting coach who raped and sexually assaulted five girls has outlined the “far-reaching and devastating effect” his offences have had on her life.

Another victim and a mother have also shared the horrific impact on their family’s lives.

Brett Leroy Richards, 62, was found guilty of six counts of rape and 10 indecent treatment of children counts in September after a 10-day trial in Rockhampton District Court.

His sentence was handed down on October 28 and the devastating, traumatic impacts his offending had on the victims’ lives and their families was detailed in court.

Judge Jeff Clarke said the first victim was 14 years old when she was first interviewed by police and 17 when she did her second pre-recording of evidence for the two-week trial.

“She had complained to her mother the last time (Richards) sexually abused her … the mother’s evidence (was) that she chose not to put her daughter through the court process at that time, but did so after she was made aware (of the other victims),” he said.

Some victim impact material was provided to the court.

“I had an opportunity to see the controlled, palpable emotion demonstrated by each of the complainants, and their mothers, while they gave their evidence,” Judge Clarke said.

“However, the first complainant who was also cross-examined about her use of grammar in her victim impact statement.

“Details in that document the far-reaching and devastating effect that (Richards’) offending has had upon her.

“She feels insecure and unable to find hope.

“She says that she is a changed person. She is no longer happy or normal.

“She is instead someone who lacks the ability to self-love, who covers her body, who hates her body and who constantly relived the memory of what (Richards) did to her.

“She randomly cries, lashes out, hurts the people she loves.

“She has been medicated for depression and anxiety and self-harm.

“She says she doesn’t want to be here in a cruel world and she still feels that way after seven years.

“The fourth complainant blames herself as the older sister for not protecting her sisters.

“She has become overly protective of them.”

Judge Clarke said their mother also blamed herself and one of the girls had tried to take her own life.

“She (the complainant) confirms that she and her sisters have been to counselling and she has been diagnosed as suffering post-traumatic stress disorder,” he said.

“She was prescribed sleeping tablets and antidepressants.

“Her school attendance dropped.

“She stopped socialising with friends because she didn’t want them to find out.

“She would push people away and cry when she was touched.

“The mother of the sisters also wrote a poignant letter.

“She says her daughters’ trusting innocence was stolen, as was their happy childhood.”

Judge Clarke said she confirmed two of her daughters had self-harmed and had seen a psychologist.

“She has seen them struggle with showing affection and they do not like to be touched – it makes them feel gross,” he said.

“She feels she failed her children and has attempted suicide herself.”

Judge Clarke said this mother felt proud of her children for their bravery in facing their abuser in court and hoped they received some closure from Richards’ convictions and sentence.

Judge Clarke sentenced Richards to nine years’ prison and declared 39 days pre-sentence custody.

He did not make any orders in relation to parole which means, because Richards took the matter to trial, that he will have to serve at least half of that nine-year sentence.

Originally published as Victims speak of impact of Brett Leroy Richard’s rapes and indecent treatment acts on their mental health