A former federal public servant has been handed more than nine years’ jail. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to child abuse.
A long-time public servant groomed a young girl before regularly sexually abusing her when she moved to Australia, while also setting up a camera to spy on a second girl in the shower.
The man, aged in his 50s but who legally cannot be named to protect his victims’ identities, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years’ jail with six years’ non-parole on Friday (21 November).
He remained impassive when appearing in the ACT Supreme Court over audio-visual link from prison, as he has remained behind bars since his arrest, during which Acting Justice Patricia Kelly told him the type of offences he committed were abhorrent to the whole community.
The man is not biologically related to either girl, but they are part of his extended family.
He spent months having sexualised conversations with the first victim when she was 14 and still living overseas in 2022 before she moved to Australia.
Then, between 2022 and early 2025, he repeatedly and regularly sexually abused her in the home he shared with his wife in Canberra.
He paid her on each occasion he abused her, sending her between $10 and $350 each time.
The second victim was 13 when the man hid a camera in the shower to take nude photos of her.
Acting Justice Kelly said the number of images that were captured of the girl was unknown, but he was sentenced on the basis that there had been one video taken of her.
She also said if the first victim declined to engage in a specific sex act with the man, he told her he would ask the second victim to do it instead. The first victim would then agree.
When he was first confronted about his crimes, he denied them and tried to blame his first victim.
The second victim still lives with the man’s wife. The judge said she had little confidence that this girl would be in a safe environment if he returned to the home when he is released from custody.
The man worked in a federal government department for many years, had no relevant prior convictions, and his character references spoke of his good character.
Acting Justice Kelly said, regretfully, it was often the case that men of otherwise good character appeared before the court charged with these types of offences.
The man pleaded guilty to single counts of the persistent sexual abuse of a young person under special care and using a child to produce child exploitation material, as well as two counts of using a carriage service to groom a person under 16.
One count of possessing child exploitation material was also taken into account at sentencing.
As his sentence was backdated to account for time served, he can be released on parole in March 2031.
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 02 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call Triple Zero.
I don't know... seems less about putting roofs over people's heads or getting people into the market… View