Man in 70s sentenced in Warwick District Court for 10 historic indecent treatment offences

A ‘brazen’ pedophile has been jailed after vile offending was exposed in court two decades after it occurred, including details so shocking a supporter of the man remarked she ‘felt sick’ hearing them.

A child sex offender has been jailed after his disgusting offending came to light, with the man telling police his underage victims “initiated the conduct”.

The man, aged in his 70s, faced Warwick District Court on Thursday, pleading guilty to 10 charges of indecent treatment of children under 12.

Horrific and graphic offending occurred opportunistically, with the man using his position of trust with two victims, who were both girls aged under 10 at the time of the offending.

The man had no linear relation to the victims, Judge Benedict Power KC noted.

Crown prosecutor Luke Smoothy told the court the offending occurred between January 1, 2002 and September 1, 2006.

The offending the man committed against the two children is too graphic to describe and involved him touching the genitalia of the children and making the child touch his penis.

Adamant children ‘initiated’ offending

A man in his 70s has pleaded guilty to 10 historic charges relating to child sexual abuse. (Photo: NRM)

When confronted and interviewed by police two decades after the offending, the man made admissions to the majority of the charges.

The court was told police attended his home in February 2023, before he made admissions in the watch-house, but denied some of the allegations on the basis of the location.

On one charge, which police said occurred in a shed, the man had no objection to it happening but said it wasn’t in the shed as it was “too open”, Mr Smoothy said.

“He told police the children had initiated the conduct which is a statement the Crown denies and says is simply not true,” Mr Smoothy said.

Judge Power KC said it was “concerning for the future rehabilitation” of the man that he believed this.

‘It never goes away’

“Both girls gave victim impact statements that speak to the profound effect of the offending on the then-children, now-women,” the Crown prosecutor said.

“(One girl) struggles with emotional regularity and sleeping, and has needed to see counsellors and psychologists.

“(The other girl) became angry … felt guilt, shame and betrayal, and still struggles emotionally.

“She tries to forget but it never goes away.”

Mr Smoothy said the Crown would be looking for a “strong deterrent sentence” for the man due to the nature of the offending.

Defence barrister Nathan Edridge noted the man, now aged in his 70s, suffered from a variety of health issues, including no teeth, recent surgery on his eyes, diabetes and fibromyalgia.

“His early plea saved victims coming forward,” Mr Edridge said.

“He has no criminal history, and is ashamed of his actions.”

Mr Edridge told the court the man had a work history all over the state, completing schooling and working in Gympie, working in Bundaberg, as well as working in the Southern Downs, before ultimately relocating to the northern suburbs of Brisbane.

‘I feel sick’

Judge Power KC noted during sentencing the man had not denied the offending occurred, but denied the location as it was “too open”.

“You said the conduct was wrong but said the children initiated the conduct with you, and the prosecution have said this is not true,” Judge Power said.

“He must get credit due to his initial denial he made admissions, but it is concerning to his future rehabilitation that he combined those admissions with an accusation the children initiated the conduct.

“This is very serious offending that occurred when you were alone with a child at a house, you were in a position of trust and were somewhere around 50-55 (years old) in the time of offending.

“You abused your position of trust and exposed her sibling to the conduct, it was extremely brazen and showed you had confidence no one would make a complaint.”

As the judge read the charges and details, one of the two female supporters in the public gallery began to sob.

“He didn’t tell me any of this. I feel sick,” the supporter said.

“I believed what he was telling me.”

During one period in which the judge read details of one count, the woman had her hands over her ears in an attempt to avoid hearing the details of the horrific events.

The judge noted the man’s “significant health difficulties and no prior criminal history”.

“Your rehabilitation will hopefully be helped by people in the community who are prepared to assist you, despite your terrible offending,” the judge said, recognising his supporters.

The judge said his conduct had caused “extraordinary detrimental effect on two young children”.

The man in his 70s was loaded into a police vehicle on Thursday afternoon. Thursday, October 10, 2024. (Photo: NRM)

The man was sentenced to a combined four years’ imprisonment, with an eligibility for release on parole on October 9, 2025.

Notably, the supporters in the public gallery did not rush to him as he was led out in handcuffs by police officers.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Man in 70s sentenced in Warwick District Court for 10 historic indecent treatment offences