Touch football player Haydn Fisher pleads guilty to failing to comply with reporting obligations
A Sunshine Coast touch football referee has been unmasked as a reportable child sex offender from NSW after he failed to tell authorities he was working and playing sport at organisations affiliated with children.
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A Sunshine Coast touch football referee has been unmasked as a reportable child sex offender after failing to tell police he was working at sports clubs involving children.
Haydn James Fisher was handed a suspended jail term at Gosford Local Court in 2015 after pleading guilty to several child sexual abuse charges, leading him to be classed as a reportable offender for 15 years.
Despite his conviction, Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday the 30-year-old man had been volunteering and refereeing touch football on the Sunshine Coast.
Fisher regularly posts these touch footy achievements on his social media profiles, whether it’s officiating or competing at local competitions.
“Officiated my first [touch football competition] and seeing the emotion from [a local team] when the hooter went off after a long drop off game,” one of his posts read.
“It makes me proud to be a TRL referee.”
Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said Fisher breached reporting obligations placed on him following his conviction, where the Palmview man must report several aspects of his life to the Child Protection Offender Registry.
This included the nature of his employment which included voluntary work, any interactions with children and any affiliation in a sports group involving youths.
Sergeant Pyke said Fisher breached these obligations six times from January 2021 to November 2024 through his involvement in two prominent community organisations where he would play and referee.
He pleaded guilty to these half a dozen charges of failing to comply with reporting obligations in court on Wednesday.
Sergeant Pyke said police received information from two organisations which revealed Fisher was involved as a player for two years.
The court heard Fisher also volunteered as a referee’s co-ordinator for touch football games and would regularly officiate games once a week for a small payment.
Another sports organisation told police he was a regular player for a number of years and refereed with them as well.
Sergeant Pyke said none of this information was reported to the registry.
Information received by police revealed he was integrated in both clubs in participation and attendance to events, with these organisations promoting themselves as “child and family focused” who embraced the attendance of children and their inclusion in mixed-aged teams, the court heard.
The police prosecutor said it was not suggested Fisher offended against any children however he should have reported his affiliations.
The Palmview man was spoken to by police on November 11 and made partial admissions however he downplayed his involvement.
Sergeant Pyke said further investigations revealed publicly available social media images which depicted Fisher photographed in “clearly a mixed aged” team photo with some players aged under 18.
She said this ongoing contact with two children players during the season was “more than mere incidental contact” and should have been reported.
Defence lawyer Rose Killip said the 30-year-old has complied with these conditions for almost 10 years since he was 19-years-old, with only one prior breach.
Ms Killip said she was instructed one club was “aware” and Fisher had told them, and only participated in the club in a volunteer capacity. She said he would only be paid up to $20 a game to officiate.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan believed it was “more out of ignorance” rather than to “get away from something” and decided to fine Fisher $1000. Convictions were recorded.
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Originally published as Touch football player Haydn Fisher pleads guilty to failing to comply with reporting obligations
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