A former childcare worker has been sentenced to six years' jail for a string of child sex offences dating back to the 1980s and 90s in Townsville, Queensland.
The man, now 61, was sentenced in the Townsville District Court on Wednesday after a jury found him guilty of six offences, during a week-long trial last month.
The charges included indecent treatment of a child under 12 and maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.
During sentencing, Judge Anthony Rafter SC described the impact on the victim.
"She spent her childhood crying on the inside and screaming for help hoping that someone would see or notice what was going on," Judge Rafter said.
The man was arrested in January 2020 after a lengthy police investigation that was sparked when the woman reported that she had been sexually assaulted as a child.
The court heard the defendant had been a stepfather-like figure to the girl, who was eight years old when the abuse began in 1987.
"The jury's verdict accepted that the predominant feature of 'the maintaining' was two to three times a week engaging in oral sex with a complainant as young as nine for a significant amount of time," crown prosecutor Monique Sheppard said.
Child 'complied out of fear'
Ms Sheppard said the defendant held a respected position in a Townsville childcare organisation that allowed him access to vehicles, which he used to collect the girl from school and sporting events.
Judge Rafter said the offending continued until the end of 1994, during which time the defendant maintained a "fatherly relationship" with the victim.
"The complainant complied out of fear," he said.
Judge Rafter imposed a sentence of six years' imprisonment.
The man will be eligible for parole in 2025 and has until June 2 to lodge an appeal.
