Bundaberg man convicted of child sex crimes breaches sentence

After his stepson was given a mobile phone for his birthday, a Qld man put it to use in a way which would end in criminal charges.

A Bundaberg man whose “misguided” attempt to teach his stepson sex education ended with a suspended jail sentence has returned to court after failing to report new contact with children. Picture: Istock

A Bundaberg man whose “misguided” attempt to teach his stepson sex education ended with a suspended jail sentence has returned to court after failing to report new contact with children.

The man, who cannot be named to protect his victim, landed back before Bundaberg District Court in February 2025 after failing to report the contact in April and May 2023 to authorities.

According to published sentencing remarks, the 37-year-old was required to report the contact as a result of a suspended jail sentence handed down in June 2022 for previous offending.

Judge Jennifer Rosengren told the court the man was sentenced for seven counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 in his care, which included six occasions in which he showed his teenage stepson videos of adults having sex.

The court heard the other offence involved “waving” his penis around in front of the same boy.

Judge Rosengren said the boy had “just been given a mobile phone for his birthday and apparently (the man) saw this as a way to educate him about sexual matters; something that was clearly very misguided”.

WATCH: P-plater’s speeding, erratic driving on Bruce Highway

Ear-tearing vigilante’s wild ‘rapist’ claims after bashing homeless man

Bundaberg District Court heard the man had previously been sentenced for indecent treatment of child after “waving” his penis around in front of his stepson as part of a “misguided” attempt at sex education when the boy was given a mobile phone for his birthday. Picture: Istock

He was sentenced to one year’s jail, wholly suspended for three years.

The court heard the 37-year-old’s new offending involved two occasions when he went to his de facto partner’s place when the children were there.

He failed to report it, the court was told.

Judge Rosengren said the man also gave “false or misleading” information on April 13, 2023 about the contact.

She said this involved first denying the contact to police, and then saying it happened in a different time and place.

The man was given one month’s jail with immediate parole and this sentence was not breached by his new offending, the court heard.

He was charged with the breach on August 26, 2024.

Judge Rosengren found the breach to be proven but it would be “unjust” to activate the remainder of his jail sentence and instead ordered it be extended for a further six months.

Originally published as Bundaberg man convicted of child sex crimes breaches sentence