Rapist sent child a letter
APN Newsdesk A CALOUNDRA mother is horrified at the lack of checks and balances which allowed a man convicted of raping her nine-year-old boy to send him a love letter from inside prison.
The mother, who cannot be identified in order to protect the identity of her son, was mortified to learn Christopher John McCoy, 21, had the gall and audacity to send the letter in which he said he loved the boy and was suffering inside prison.
McCoy, who is from Kingsthorpe, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court to recording himself committing revolting sex acts on a friend’s younger brother at McCoy’s home in Caloundra.
The details of the eight offences, which occurred in January last year, were not disclosed in court.
The offences came to light after McCoy’s younger brother found a sex video and photos of the boy on his mobile phone and reported them to their mother, who then told the police.
McCoy was sentenced earlier this year to three years in jail, which was to be suspended after serving nine months.
The boy’s mother, talking exclusively to APN Newsdesk yesterday, said the letter, which was addressed to her young son, was vile and revolting.
She said she could not fathom how authorities let a violent rapist send a letter to his young victim.
“The letter turned up in the mail about two weeks ago,” she said.
“I was bloody horrified when I turned over the envelope and saw who it was from.
“The letter was essentially a sob story to my son about how tough he was doing inside.
“The thing that revolted me the most was the bit at the end where he told my son he would always love him.”
The mother said what has happened was not good enough, especially considering McCoy was told at his sentencing that he could not contact the boy or his family in any way.
“The letter has made us relive the whole sordid ordeal again while he is in prison rubbing our face in it.
“What is next? When he gets released will they drop him off outside the front of our house?”
The boy’s mother said she had contacted prison authorities and Maroochydore police in relation to the correspondence.
“They said they would investigate it, but I have not heard back from either of them,” she said.
“It has not only affected me, but it has affected our entire family and the authorities allowed it to happen.
“I bet if it was a letter to Premier Campbell Newman it would not have got through.”
A Queensland Corrective Services spokesman said an investigation into the matter had been launched.
“Queensland Corrective Services deeply regrets any distress caused as a result of unwelcome correspondence recently sent to a Sunshine Coast resident and his family,” they said.
“QCS works to ensure that prisoners’ correspondence and telephone calls are controlled to prevent unwanted contact.
“Except for privileged mail, the contents of all letters may be screened.
“The circumstances surrounding this matter are currently being investigated and additional vetting measures have been implemented to ensure there is no recurrence.”