Registered sex offender Troy John Kemp, 37, concealed twice weekly visits to children’s home

A registered child sex offender hid regular contact with two young children, telling a Queensland court he didn’t want to lose his friendship with their parents.

Troy John Kemp, 37, outside Toowoomba courthouse on Friday August 23, 2024. Picture: NewsCorp Australia

In a bid to save a friendship, a Queensland registered child sex offender has confessed to hiding regular contact with children.

Toowoomba man Troy John Kemp, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of failure to report under the Child Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004 as a reportable offender after repeatedly visiting a friend’s home while their two young children were present.

Kemp was labelled a reportable offender on the Child Protection Offender Register following a child sex offence conviction in 2015 for which he received a suspended prison sentence.

Police prosecutor Chris Willson told the court police discovered Kemp had hidden regularly twice weekly visits to the home for some time.

“His admissions to police were that he knew what he was doing and he made the conscious decision not to report contact with children in order to maintain his friendship with the two parents,” Senior Constable Willson said.

Senior Constable Willson said Kemp had previously failed to comply with reporting obligations in 2015 for which he was given two years probation.

Defence solicitor Brad Skuse, appearing on behalf of Kemp, told the court his client was ready to accept the consequences of his actions.

“He made a poor decision to put his friendship ahead of his obligations,” Mr Skuse said.

Mr Skuse advised Kemp had since disclosed the whole truth to the family and was still welcomed as a friend, with one parent providing a character letter to the magistrate for consideration.

“He has now been opened and discussed with them and the friendship continues,” he said.

“(His friend) continues to speak highly in relation to my client.”

Magistrate Michelle Dooley said her decision was one with wider consideration.

“It’s a matter in which there needs to be specific deterrence for you to make sure that you comply with reporting conditions and for the community generally,” she said.

For the offences, Kemp received a wholly suspended sentence of three months with an operational period of 12 months.