A 59-year-old Mid-North Coast man will be sentenced in the Sydney Downing Centre in February 2021 after pleading guilty to 26 counts of historic child sex offences.
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The sentencing hearing was in the Port Macquarie District Court on Thursday November 24 before Judge M King.
The man and his victims cannot be named.
The accused sat in the dock for the hearing and at times his voice wavered as he pleaded guilty to each of the charges as they were read out.
The offences took place at several locations on the Mid-North Coast between 2002 and 2012 when the four victims were aged between 10 years and 16 years of age.
Charges include, aggravated sexual intercourse, incite aggravated indecency, aggravated indecency, aggravated indecent assault and incite a person under 16 years to commit an act of indecency.
Two of the victims read impact statements to the court as part of the hearing.
Both victims agreed that parts of their statements could be reported.
One of the victims outlined the "living nightmare" she currently experiences in her day to day life.
"You took my childhood from me," the victim said.
"You were in a position of trust and authority.
"I now live with trust issues in relationships."
The second victim said she had attempted suicide several times. There were also episodes of self-harm.
"I also have trust issues - including past and current relationships - including with my own family," she said.
"Some of my family members have not supported me through this matter."
Both victims said they kept quiet about the offences for fear of breaking up their family unit.
They also said they experience outbursts of anger and both protected themselves from pursuing close relationships.
The Crown defence tabled a letter of apology from the offender to the court as part of their submissions.
"I won't go over the facts. They are clear," the defence said.
"The offender is aged 59 years of age and comes before your honour with a clear record.
Your honour, there is an amount of evidence showing remorse and contrition, including his letter of apology.
- Crown defence
"There are no offences recorded against him, except for these charges.
"The offender has been in custody for nearly 18 months.
"Your honour, there is an amount of evidence showing remorse and contrition, including his letter of apology.
"Your honour has his statements from the sentencing assessment report, his expression of contrition and remorse expressed to his psychiatrist.
"He has expressed contrition and remorse to a relative, saying he wanted to "rebuild his life to be the best man he can be"."
The Crown defence said the prospects of his client rehabilitating himself were good.
"There is clear evidence of my client accepting his actions, agreed his conduct was inappropriate and needed to engage in intervention along with his unresolved alcohol issues.
"We also note that the offender had only access to his psychiatrist for one session."
The Crown prosecutor agreed a letter indicating contrition and remorse from the offender had been tabled to the court.
"But there is no sworn evidence from the offender in terms of that contrition and remorse," the Crown prosecutor said.
"He can be seen as blaming the fact that he was drunk before some of these offending.
"There is also comment (from the offender) in relation to the offences as being "a joke", which goes to insight into these matters.
When you honour hears the victim impact statements, that breach of trust was at the heart of these offences for them (the victims).
- Crown prosecutor
"It is my submission that there is limited and a lack of insight into the offences," he said.
When you honour looks at that lack of insight, the court would be guarded in the victim's level of rehabilitation, the Crown prosecutor said.
"This is offending over a number of years with four separate complainants.
"The offender was habituating that conduct and that it was habitualised in terms of what a family does.
"That is a significant and thoughtful type of conduct that persisted for a number of years.
"When you honour hears the victim impact statements, that breach of trust was at the heart of these offences for them (the victims).
"The breach of trust is significant in the subjective seriousness of all these offendings."
Judge King listed the sentencing date to the Sydney Downing Centre on February 5, 2021.
Also making court:
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