AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-1999
QLD: Priest jailed for sexual abusing girl
ROCKHAMPTON, Qld, Feb 15 AAP - A Catholic priest made an underage girl confess her sins
after sexually abusing her on numerous occasions over a two-year period, the Rockhampton
District Court was told today.
Father Reginald Basil Durham, 82, was sentenced to 18 months jail after he pleaded guilty
to six counts of indecently dealing with a girl under the age of 17 between December 1960 and
January 1963.
The maximum penalty at the time the crimes were committed was two years.
Wearing black wrap-around sunglasses, Durham showed little emotion during the hearing.
Crown prosecutor Simone Bain told the court the offences, which involved oral sex and hand
masturbation, took place in Rockhampton while the victim was aged between 12 and 14 and Durham
was between 44 and 46.
She said he had won the trust of the girl's family and then manipulated them to gain access
to her on regular occasions while concealing the "hidden truth".
Judge Neil McLauchlan said Durham, whose community service background - including almost 30
years of work with the Rockhampton and Yeppoon Show Societies, Rockhampton Pipe Band, a pony
club and a Mount Morgan old persons' home - was detailed to the court, had abused his
privileged position.
"Your conduct was appalling," he said.
Judge McLauchlan took into account Durham's frail health in recommending parole after four
months.
AAP jfs/cfm/de (Regdaily)
KEYWORD: DURHAM
1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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