Man charged over attacks
Boys allegedly molested in public toilets
A MAN who was jailed for pedophilia in the Northern Territory is back behind bars after allegedly molesting two young boys in separate attacks in Queensland.
Paul Thompson, 65, was convicted of molesting a boy in Darwin in 1996.
The former teacher was accused of interfering with an 11-year-old boy this month in public toilets near a busy playground and swimming enclosure at the Gold Coast.
Police will allege he followed the boy to the disabled toilet and knocked on the door, asking if he had found any lost money.
The boy opened the door and the man allegedly blocked the doorway and put his hand down the child’s pants.
When the boy emerged from the toilet, angry witnesses and a lifeguard chased the man and held him until police arrived.
Officers had already been searching for the man after receiving an almost identical report from another 11-yearold boy at the same place the day before.
It is understood police immediately suspected Thompson, who was on a suspended sentence of wilful exposure on the Gold Coast this year.
Police doorknocked his Gold Coast address but could not find him until he allegedly reoffended the next day.
Thompson has a lengthy criminal history spanning several states and has previously been deported from southeast Asia, where he had been working as a sporting instructor with children.
Originally from Western Australia, Thompson was first jailed for preying on boys, aged between seven and 10, in Perth parks. He escaped jail in 1991 and it is believed he then came to Darwin.
After serving time in the Territory, he was released, despite being wanted over his escape in Western Australia.
He went on to coach youths at a cricket club between 1999 and 2004 in Bali and was sacked from a school in Thailand.
In 2007, he successfully challenged a decision to ban him from leaving Australia after he breached reporting convictions and secretly travelled to Asia.
At the time, the Australian Federal Police told the Ad- ministrative Appeals Tribunal they suspected Thompson — who had more than 40 sex- related convictions — would reoffend in Asia.
The man faced Southport Magistrates Court before Christmas charged with five counts of indecent dealing with a child under 12 and one of deprivation of liberty.
He denied allegations of sexual contact with minors and said he would consider disputing the charges. He did not seek bail and was remanded in custody to return to court on February 6.