Paedophile jailed for 23 years after being found guilty of 16 child sexual abuse charges

A man who raped and abused six children – including his own daughter – has been sent to jail for 23 years with the judge saying he saw children as his sexual commodities.

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A SERIAL paedophile a judge said saw children as his sexual commodities has been jailed for 23 years with no chance of parole for 15 of those years.

After hearing his sentence, the 63-year-old, told Justice Helen Wood no one had ever paid for sex crimes committed against him.

“No one ever got done for what they did to me in Ashley Boy’s Home,” he said as guards took him out of the Supreme Court in Hobart.

The man, who cannot be named to protect his victims, was remanded in custody in October after being found guilty by a jury of 16 child sex charges including eight counts of rape.

His crimes were spread across three decades and his victims were six boys and girls – including a biological daughter and two step children.

They were aged between six and 16 years of age.

The Supreme Court in Hobart heard the man had been jailed for child sexual abuse crimes in Tasmania in 2003 and had spent time behind bars in New South Wales for similar offences.

Justice Wood said the man had depraved and base attitudes and saw children as his sexual commodities.

She said he bribed his victims with treats, told them he loved them best and threatened them if they suggested they would tell people what was happening to him.

Justice Wood called his crimes predatory and determined and told the man he had caused severe and long-lasting harm to his victims.

“Their victim impact statements show you cast a terrible shadow over their childhoods and family relationships,” she said in sentencing.

“You did not plead guilty and all your victims had to give evidence. Their distress and shame in doing so was obvious.

“You continue to this day to claim you have been set up. You have a callous lack of empathy.

“You prey on children who have a lack of knowledge of such depravity.”

The court heard the man had completed a sex offenders course last time he was in prison but it had not changed his behaviour.

“You have sexually deviant patterns of arousal and little or no insight into the impact on your victims. You are a grave danger to children and a very heavy sentence is required,” Justice Wood said.

“You may spend the rest of your life in jail but the court must protect children. You require extensive rehabilitation.”

The man was told he could apply for parole in 15 years but if his attitude towards his crimes had not changed he would be unlikely to get it.