Monster granted trips to ‘day spa’ to meet sexual needs

ROBERT John Fardon was given a Go Card to travel on the train, a driver’s licence and sessions at a male “day spa” to “meet his sexual needs” before his secret release into the community.

He was also allowed to go fishing and shopping and shown how to use a mobile phone in the months leading up to this freedom.

Justice Helen Bowskill outlined Fardon’s time in the halfway house in her judgment of the State Government’s appeal to prevent his release.

“By February 2018 the respondent is recorded as having improved his level of comfort with moving about the community, having recently caught a train and using a Go Card for the first time,” the judgment reveals.

“The respondent had commenced, with permission, attending a male ‘day spa’ in order to meet his sexual needs and had no difficult or adverse experiences while doing so.”

Queensland Corrective Services yesterday declined to say what the “day-spa” trips entailed or how much they cost taxpayers.

“For privacy, safety and security reasons, it would not be appropriate for QCS to disclose the specifics of an individual’s offender management,” a spokesman said.

“QCS’s role in monitoring an individual in the community is to ensure compliance with a supervision order, therefore ensuring public safety.”

Fardon was placed into supervision in October 2013 and since that time has been slowly gaining freedoms.

By February 2015 he was allowed on escorted outings and by May 2015 was trying to get a driver’s licence and learning how to use a mobile phone.

Corrective Services staff said Fardon was getting frustrated with halfway house life and this was “boiling over into significant displays of anger”.

In December 2015, Fardon was given more privileges and required to submit weekly plans of his proposed movements.

“As he still had only a learner driver’s licence, he was still undertaking his leave in the company of other residents, but then moving around unaccompanied after arriving at a destination. He was approved to go on fishing day trips,” the judgment said.

But February 2017, Fardon had gained his driver’s licence.

The judgment also reveals Fardon’s worsening health condition with him suffering a major heart attack in October last year.