Paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale sentenced to 8 years in jail for child abuse

ABC News
April 8, 2014

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-08/paedophile-priest-gerald-ridsdale-sentenced/5375506

Paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale has been sentenced to eight years in jail with a minimum non-parole period of five years for the abuse of 14 children.

The offences came to light last year following the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into child sex abuse and span almost three decades.

The 80-year-old pleaded guilty to the most recent charges, which included raping and abusing children as young as four.

In sentencing Judge Michael Rozenes said Ridsdale's crimes were abhorrent and had caused his victims ongoing pain and suffering.

"It is clear that you used your position within the Church to facilitate your offending, befriending the complainants under the guise of the ‘friendly priest’ before perpetrating various serious sexual acts upon them," the judge said in court.

"Your victims were amongst the most vulnerable in our community, children."

The sentence adds three years to the jail term he is already serving for offences committed against dozens of girls and boys in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

During a pre-sentencing hearing a woman from western Victoria, who was 10 years old when Ridsdale began abusing her in 1961, told the court she felt "dirty, scared and confused" by Ridsdale's repeated sexual abuse.

He told her it was "the Lord's work".

Statements from other victims told of a lifelong battle with alcohol and drugs and broken relationships.

Another victim, who was abused during the 1970s, told the court in a statement that "the turmoil of those grim images continues to diminish my dignity".

Ridsdale will be eligible for parole in April, 2019.