An 88-year-old man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for historic child sexual abuse.
Richard Jones, 88, was sentenced today for sexually abusing a child he met through Horizon Church (formerly Christian Growth Centre) in Sutherland, Sydney. The abuse occurred in the 1980s when Jones was volunteering at the church.
Jones pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual abuse of a child aged 10 and 11. At the time of the offending, Jones was 45–46 years old. The abuse took place during sleepovers at his home.
The church did not report the abuse to police at the time. In 2024, the victim reported the abuse to the church's pastor, who contacted police. Jones was arrested in Western Australia and charged in November 2024.
In sentencing, Judge David Scully noted Jones' advanced age, ill health, and the death of his wife. He rejected a community corrections order, stating it was inappropriate given Jones had led a lifetime free of criminal punishment.
The victim was present in court for the sentencing.