Paedophile jailed for eight years over sexual assault on girl taken from Kmart
A predatory paedophile who abducted a seven-year-old girl from a Queensland shopping centre and molested her has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Sterling Mervyn Free, 27, lured the girl from a Kmart store at Westfield North Lakes, north of Brisbane, in December last year.
He took her to bushland about 30 minutes away, sexually assaulted her and returned her to the centre more than an hour later.
The girl's mother had been waiting for her daughter in the centre of a busy toy section as the girl selected a toy.
When the mother raised the alarm with security, CCTV footage was located of Free leading the child out of the store.
When she returned, her mother noticed two long scratch marks down her back, which the child refused to explain. She also would not tell police.
Free had pleaded guilty to deprivation of liberty, taking a child for immoral purposes and indecent treatment of a child under 12.
He will be eligible for parole in August 2021.
Free's actions were described as opportunistic and predatory during his sentencing hearing in the Brisbane District Court on Friday.
Judge Julie Dick noted Free later told police his actions made him feel "sick and disgusting".
Previous court hearings have been told Free is a pornography addict with a pedophilic disorder who was himself abused.
The mother of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe released a statement on behalf of the girl’s family before the sentencing.
“My tiny innocent girl was well aware of stranger danger, however this person was friendly to her and tricked her into following him,” Denise Morcombe wrote on Twitter.
“No child should ever have to go through this type of trauma, and no sentence will ever be long enough to make up for the ongoing effects this will have on her.”
“We, as a family, remain positive and are trying to move forward. We would like to thank the QPS, the QDPP and the Australian public for their support throughout this ordeal.”
Paedophile apologies to victim’s family
Free’s lawyer Shaune Irving addressed media after the sentencing to read a statement from his client in which he apologised for the “pain” he caused the girl and her family.
“I today accept the punishment imposed upon me by the justice system,” Mr Irving read out.
“I took away her innocence and scared her family. I hope that today my sentence provides her and her family some closure.
“I can only ever say sorry. I know this is not good enough. I cannot imagine the pain and fear I’ve caused. I can’t take that back.”
Free is a father of two twin girls.
With AAP
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