Augusto Ricardo Tamayo-Del-Solar, 74, was sentenced to more than three years’ jail by the ACT Supreme Court this month. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to child abuse.
The vile actions of a pedophile, who had already been sentenced for child abuse before he indecently assaulted two young sisters, left one of his latest survivors feeling like “she doesn’t belong anymore”.
Augusto Ricardo Tamayo-Del-Solar, 74, demonstrated no remorse for the abuse he inflicted, the ACT Supreme Court heard when he was sentenced on Friday (22 August).
Region has been unable to report on the matter until now for legal reasons.
The two sisters were aged 10 and 11 and he was in his early 70s when he abused them on three occasions over 2022 and 2023 by repeatedly indecently touching their bodies while they were in public, including at a religious conference and a medical facility.
When touching one of the girls, he told her she was his “girlfriend now”.
He gained access to the sisters by befriending their mother and had taken advantage of the opportunities he had when he was alone with them, Justice Verity McWilliam said.
“The motivation for the offending was plainly for sexual gratification,” she said.
She said one of the sisters told the court Tamayo-Del-Solar made her “feel like she doesn’t belong anymore”, that she hates the way he made her feel, and she now doesn’t want to be around anyone.
The other sister said he made her feel scared and unsure about her surroundings, and she was afraid of going into crowded places. Both said they were now frightened of men.
The girls’ mother spoke of the guilt and regret she felt, as well as the toll the crimes had inflicted on her daughters.
“It is trite to talk about the innocence of youth, but for these victims, the feelings of security in life, derived psychologically from safety or trust, is gone,” Justice McWilliam said.
“The family is now working hard to rebuild.
“It is to be hoped that in time they can actively banish the thoughts of this offender and the impact he has had on them to re-empower themselves to live full and happy lives.”
Tamayo-Del-Solar pleaded guilty to three counts of committing an act of indecency on a child under 16, although he then unsuccessfully tried to traverse his plea, which means he attempted to withdraw it.
Judge McWilliam said this attempt showed he hadn’t demonstrated any remorse.
He has previously been convicted of child sex offences in the ACT, for which he was handed a prison sentence, and has been diagnosed with pedophilia.
“This offender has no insight into the fact that he has a disease,” Judge McWilliam said.
“It is causing him to lie to himself about what is really going on, as seen through his delusional view that he is attracted to the conversation of children rather than his attraction being on a sexual level.
“It leads to a concern about how he will control any future urge he has to touch children, without him actively managing his condition.”
Tamayo-Del-Solar is retired and living on an aged pension, but remained in custody for two years and seven months after his arrest in January 2023.
He was convicted and sentenced to three years and three months’ jail with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years.
As this was backdated to account for time served, it means his non-parole period has been completed, and he is now eligible to apply for parole.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 02 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
Yeah good luck with that, Barr is still to busy screwing Canberrans with the Scam rail.. View