Deviant jailed for sex attack

A GEELONG man who used to repair children’s rides at shopping centres was jailed yesterday for the sexual assault of a 10-year-old intellectually disabled boy.

Bradley Dickens, 48, will spend up to seven years and nine months in jail for sexually penetrating a child under 16 and committing an indecent act in the presence of the boy.

He was found guilty by a Geelong County Court jury in May, and sentenced by Judge Gerard Mullaly yesterday, granted a non-parole period of five years and nine months.

The judge said Dickens knew the boy’s family, and betrayed their trust in a “dreadful violation” in 2012.

“Although you didn’t have any formal role in looking after the victim, given his age and your family friendship you were in a position of trust when he came around to visit,” Judge Mullaly said yesterday.

“You breached that trust by sexually assaulting him in your home where he had come to play and enjoy himself.”

The boy told court he was “scared all the time” since being assaulted by Dickens.

“I hate talking about it and I find my life is different than it should be. I’m always mad at myself and everyone else. I feel like I am bad,” he said in a victim impact statement. “My life is full of sadness.”

His parents added they felt they’d let their son down. “(They) should not be made to feel at fault. The only person at fault was you,” Judge Mullaly told Dickens.

The judge noted Dickens was a qualified electrician and long-time cannabis user who’d battled bipolar disorder and depression, but said his mental woes were not “causally connected” to his offences.

“You as the adult knew what you were doing was wrong. You should’ve resisted but you did not. Your moral culpability is high,” Judge Mullaly said.

Dickens has been in custody since May 24 when the jury found him guilty of the two charges he faced. The 91 days he has served in custody will count towards his jail term.