‘HE’LL STRIKE AGAIN’
SERIAL rapist Robert John Fardon will reoffend once he is no longer under supervision, health experts warn.
Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di McLeod, who has cared for victims attacked by Fardon, knows a predator like the 69year-old will almost certainly strike again and most likely on the Gold Coast.
“He was born down here on the Tweed border. If past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour, then it’s not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’ he’s likely to offend again,” Ms McLeod told the Bulletin.
The State Government yesterday revealed its lawyers had failed in a Supreme Court bid to have Fardon’s supervision order extended after it expires in October.
It is now considering legal options.
On release, Fardon will no longer be monitored by authorities or checked by a psychologist as he moves anywhere he likes without support or counselling.
“This is a known serial rapist and predator,” Ms McLeod said. “For him to be out and about with no reporting conditions – I think there’s reason for the community to be concerned.”
Fardon has been offending since 1967 when he was 18. He has raped females as young as 12.
Opposition frontbencher Ros Bates, who has also had contact with the victims, said: “We don’t want him anywhere near the Gold Coast. Labor needs to appeal the decision and keep him under strict supervision.”
The big fear about Fardon is he will return to the Coast where he committed some of its his notorious offences. Fardon was born in Murwillumbah and on release has a habit of returning to the Glitter Strip where he built up previous relationships, targeting vulnerable women.
A Gold Coast Bulletin report in 2013 revealed two of Fardon’s victims were living within a kilometre of each other when he allegedly committed his last rape, of a mentally impaired woman, at Palm Beach in 2008. He was found guilty and jailed for 10 years, only for the conviction to be quashed.
On release from prison at Wacol, Fardon would travel south to the Coast each day, visiting a disabled woman he had known as a teenager.
Fardon sodomised the woman, who later saw a doctor and made a complaint to police, leading to his arrest. She has since feared for her life and sought protection.
His pending release is likely to trigger nightmares among his former Coast victims who will take extra security precautions. Some have chosen to leave the tourist strip.
The State Opposition yesterday called on the government to seek urgent legal advice.
Lawyers for the AttorneyGeneral made an application to Fardon’s supervision order when it expires in October. However, the application was denied.
Opposition AttorneyGeneral David Janetzki told the Bulletin: “I am calling on the Queensland government to seek urgent legal advice to appeal the Supreme Court’s decision.
“The safety of our community
is paramount and we need to ensure vulnerable children are protected.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to do all that she can to keep dangerous sexual offenders under strict supervision, particularly when it comes to violent repeat offenders.
“The government’s first responsibility should be to keep Queenslanders safe.”
A spokesperson for the Attorney-General in a statement said: “The AttorneyGeneral is examining the judgment and will consider her position in due course.”