Babysitter ‘abused boys’
THE trial for a man charged with raping a young boy and indecently treating two others in his care has begun this week in Dalby District Court.
The 54-year-old pleaded not guilty to 17 charges, including one count of rape, and 16 of the indecent treatment of the three boys.
It will be alleged the Western Downs man sexually offended against the boys while he was their babysitter over a five-year period. Crown prosecutor Amanda Robinson said the man was thought to be a saviour to parents as he’d look after “heaps” of children, the majority of whom were boys, both before and after school and overnight.
“Most of the boys had a great time with him and hanging out with the other children at his house, but you will hear from three young boys. “Their time wasn’t so great.” The court heard the boys were allegedly sexually offended again on separate occasions.
Ms Robinson said the Western Downs man reportedly raped one of the boys who was between five and 10 at the time.
He also allegedly performed sex acts in front of him, showed him sexual videos, and made the boy take part in a naked pillow fight. Ms Robinson told the jury, “The (man) said not to tell anyone, ‘they’ll think we’re weirdos’.”
The court also heard the 54year-old allegedly touched the same boy on inappropriate areas of his body on several occasions.
It’s alleged one boy was aged between five and eight when the man touched him inappropriately while he was trying to sleep, and pulled the youngster back to him when he moved away. Ms Robinson said the abuse continued the next morning as the boy was getting ready for school and the man directed him to “get back to bed” so he could touch him inappropriately again.
A third boy, aged seven to 10 at the time, reported that while he was asleep he woke up to the man touching him under his clothes on more than one occasion.
The court heard the claims came to light when one of the boys revealed to their older brother in 2016 about what had allegedly happened, and the older boy reported it to his mother.
Ms Robinson said the two other boys told family members years later.
“Police were notified, they spoke to a lot of boys and one girl who were looked after and they’ll tell you about their experiences with (the man), which were largely positive,” she said.
Jurors will also hear 13 hours of prerecorded evidence from the children.
The trial, which is expected to run until next week, is also expected to include statements from the alleged victims’ family members and other children who were babysat by the man.