Squeeze on psychiatrist services causes court delays in Tasmania

A squeeze on psychiatrist services in Tasmania is causing court delays a magistrate hearing a child sexual abuse case says.

Burnie Supreme and Magisterial Court

A MAGISTRATE has bemoaned the backlog in obtaining forensic psychiatric reports in Tasmania as a child sexual abuse case continues to drag on without plea.

John Oldfield Nettleton, 35, of Burnie, is charged with over 70 child sex and abuse charges

He appeared again in the Burnie Magistrate’s Court today via video link from Risdon Prison where he has been since late last year.

A warrant was issued for Nettleton’s arrest in November after he took off from the court just minutes before he was due to appear.

The charges, laid by the Australian Federal Police, include seven counts of procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, one of persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia, four counts of engaging in sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia and 21 of having child abuse material.

The AFP alleges the offences took place overseas between March 2016 and February 2018.

Nettleton’s lawyer Adrian Hilly again asked for an adjournment today saying he was still waiting on a psychological report to be prepared.

David Sikk from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions told the court that given the history of the matters he had some concerns about the case’s progress, or lack thereof.

Magistrate Tamara Jago said the best the court could do was keep an eye on the delay and pass onto the psychologist involved the need for the report to be done before Nettleton’s next court appearance.

“Psychological services are stretched in Tasmania, especially involving the preparation of forensic psychological reports,’ she said.

The Australian Federal Police said the maximum penalty for the alleged offences was up to 25 years imprisonment.

Nettleton is due to reappear on February 26.