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Kmart abduction case: Australian jailed for molesting girl | Kmart abduction case: Australian jailed for molesting girl |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An Australian man who kidnapped a child from a shopping centre and molested her in remote scrubland has been jailed. | An Australian man who kidnapped a child from a shopping centre and molested her in remote scrubland has been jailed. |
Sterling Mervyn Free, 27, lured the seven-year-old girl out of a Kmart store in Brisbane last December. | Sterling Mervyn Free, 27, lured the seven-year-old girl out of a Kmart store in Brisbane last December. |
He then drove her to an isolated place where he sexually assaulted her, before returning her about an hour later. | He then drove her to an isolated place where he sexually assaulted her, before returning her about an hour later. |
A judge called the attack "every parent's worst nightmare" and jailed Free for a maximum of eight years - a sentence which has drawn controversy. | A judge called the attack "every parent's worst nightmare" and jailed Free for a maximum of eight years - a sentence which has drawn controversy. |
Speaking in the Brisbane District Court, Judge Julie Dick said Free's abduction of the girl form a toy aisle was "chilling, opportunistic and predatory". | Speaking in the Brisbane District Court, Judge Julie Dick said Free's abduction of the girl form a toy aisle was "chilling, opportunistic and predatory". |
But she stopped short of legally classifying him as a serious violent offender, meaning Free will be eligible for parole in 2021. | But she stopped short of legally classifying him as a serious violent offender, meaning Free will be eligible for parole in 2021. |
Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the sentence was "grossly inadequate" and called on Queensland state lawmakers to intervene. | Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the sentence was "grossly inadequate" and called on Queensland state lawmakers to intervene. |
"To have this young girl treated the way that she was by this animal is unacceptable and that he wouldn't go to jail for a long period of time just doesn't reflect community standards," he said. | "To have this young girl treated the way that she was by this animal is unacceptable and that he wouldn't go to jail for a long period of time just doesn't reflect community standards," he said. |
Prosecutors told the court the attack had occurred while the girl's parents were busy doing Christmas shopping. | Prosecutors told the court the attack had occurred while the girl's parents were busy doing Christmas shopping. |
The court was shown CCTV footage of Free lingering in the toy aisles, before exiting the store with the girl following him. | The court was shown CCTV footage of Free lingering in the toy aisles, before exiting the store with the girl following him. |
He was arrested two days later and charged with kidnapping and indecent assault. He pleaded guilty to the charges in July. | He was arrested two days later and charged with kidnapping and indecent assault. He pleaded guilty to the charges in July. |
The court heard that Free, who has two children, was addicted to pornography and had suffered abuse himself. | |
He apologised to his victim and said he accepted his punishment, saying in a statement on Friday: "I deeply regret the harm that I have done." | He apologised to his victim and said he accepted his punishment, saying in a statement on Friday: "I deeply regret the harm that I have done." |
The victim's mother said her daughter had been educated about "stranger danger" but was tricked into following Free. | The victim's mother said her daughter had been educated about "stranger danger" but was tricked into following Free. |
"[No] sentence will ever be long enough to make up for the ongoing effects this will have on her," she said. | "[No] sentence will ever be long enough to make up for the ongoing effects this will have on her," she said. |
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