A convicted paedophile will spend up to five years in jail after being found guilty of multiple child sex offences.
Convicted paedophile Neil Duncan was sentenced in the Sydney's Downing Centre District Court on Friday, with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years.
Duncan, formerly of Bega, was convicted in June in the Queanbeyan District Court on eight counts of sexually touching three girls under the age of 16 in the Bega Valley and Kosciuszko National Park in 2019.
One of his victims was 10 at the time.
The 67-year-old's sentencing was delayed in August so he could undergo surgery for prostate cancer and tests for possible bowel cancer in September.
It was adjourned again in October so he could recover.
When Duncan was handed bail ahead of his initial August sentencing date, the high-profile case was raised in the NSW Parliament.
New South Wales Attorney-General Mark Speakman also took the extraordinary step of criticising Crown prosecutors for supporting the application.
'Barrage of publicity'
State laws were soon changed and convicted criminals now face full-time prison and are unable to be released on bail prior to sentencing unless special or exceptional circumstances are found.
During sentencing, Judge Robyn Tupman criticised the media over its coverage of the case, specifically over an unproven allegation Duncan breached his post-conviction bail conditions when attending a pony club event near his new home in the Tamworth area.
Judge Tupman told the court the "barrage of publicity" in print and on the radio since Duncan's conviction had caused community backlash and harm to his family.
Crown prosecutors told the court Duncan had expressed no remorse for his actions.
Victim advocate Howard Brown said given the nature of his offending, Duncan required rehabilitation to stop any further offending.
"Unfortunately the only place where he can begin the process of rehabilitating is in custody," he said.
Duncan will be eligible for parole in 2025.
