Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

Central Queensland man who recorded, shared sexual abuse of niece sentenced to 20 years

The sentencing judge says the man has shown little remorse for his actions.  (ABC News: Demi Lynch)

A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of "prolific" sexual abuse of his young niece.

The man pleaded guilty in Rockhampton after a pawn shop worker found footage on a laptop and alerted police.

The District Court heard the man was living with his sister when he abused her daughter over a two-year period. 

She was five years old when the abuse started.

In sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Clarke said the man abused his position of trust "to offend in the most wicked way".

He faced more than 90 charges including dozens of counts of rape, more than 20 of indecent treatment of a child under 12 and under care, plus counts of making, possessing and distributing child exploitation material.

Among the charges was one count of maintaining an unlawful relationship with a child.

The wording of this offence was this week highlighted by abuse survivor Grace Tame in her National Press Club address.

Ms Tame is campaigning for changes to legislation to "correct the narrative and take control away from abusers".

Videos sent to other abusers

Prosecutor Samantha O'Rourke told the court there were 54 videos documenting abuse on the man's laptop, which was given to a pawn shop as loan security in 2018.

The man has been in custody since then.

Ms O'Rourke said some of the videos were distributed to other abusers.

"It was clear in the videos the child knew that he was exploiting her when she begged him not to post it online," Ms O'Rourke said.

The court heard police also found thousands of videos and photos depicting child exploitation material during a search of the man's house.

In sentencing, Judge Clarke said the man ignored the child's pleas to stop "even when she cried out in pain".

He said the man had "normalised and desensitised" his niece to the abuse.

"She would watch TV, for example, while you used her for your selfish, perverted sexual gratification."

Judge Clarke said that apart from pleading guilty, "there is simply no other demonstration of your remorse or real acceptance of wrongdoing".

"The lurid content of your abuse you sent to others will conceivably be available on the internet and in the possession of others internationally forever — and your family will live with that knowledge. 

The man will be eligible for parole in 16 years.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.