Man gets jail for child sex acts

A BUNDABERG couple has told of their family’s disintegration after their son was groomed and indecently treated by an elderly man with previous child sex convictions.

William Hugh Phillips, 72, pleaded guilty in Bundaberg District Court last week to five counts of indecent treatment with aggravation against the boy in mid-2008.

Phillips had previously been convicted of child sex offences in 1977 in Brisbane and 1997 in Rockhampton.

The boy’s parents, who cannot be named to protect his identity, told the NewsMail outside court of the anguish the boy and his family had endured since the offences came to light.

His mother said the boy was no longer the same person.

“Since then (the boy) has not been able to open up to senior people,” she said.

“We don’t know if, in 12 to 18 months, (Phillips) is going to come out and do this again.

“I do find closure, but I hope my son can find closure.”

She said the offences had also led to her and her husband’s separation.

The boy’s father said he felt justice had been served.

“I’m happy with the outcome at the moment,” he said.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark told the court the man met the boy’s family briefly in 2000, before he befriended them through their church in April 2008.

“He was grooming the child by giving gifts and exploiting him by creating trust in him, and telling his parents he had a Blue Card,” he said.

The boy was eventually allowed to stay at Phillips’s home as his parents gained trust in the man.

The court was told Phillips made the boy sleep in his bed and performed sex acts on him.

The boy told his parents and the deputy principal of his school what was happening after he was suspended for touching a younger female student in a sexual way.

Judge Keith Dodds said he would impose sentences to deter the defendant and others who might be tempted to engage in this type of behaviour.

“I have no doubt the defendant knew it would be wrong. He has prior convictions.”

The judge sentenced Phillips to three-and-a-half years jail and set his parole date for May 5 next year.