In a controversial turn of events, a child rapist in South Australia is set to be released from prison next week due to a legal loophole. The unnamed individual, who has served a five-year sentence for the sexual abuse of a young girl, will walk out of Mount Gambier prison on Monday—much to the dismay of local authorities. Just one day after his release, he is scheduled to appear in a Canberra court to face sentencing for the abuse of Mike Worsman, who was just 12 years old when he suffered violent assaults in the 1990s.
The case has sparked outrage, especially from Worsman, who recalls the trauma inflicted by this offender: “The monster that offended against me, we later found out had offended against other people,” he stated. Worsman and the ACT prosecutors have desperately sought to have the man extradited directly to his court hearing, rather than allowing him to be released into the community for over 24 hours. “He’s a massive flight risk. He’s incredibly intelligent… he could disappear quite easily,” he added, expressing grave concern for the safety of other potential victims.
Despite efforts to prevent the release, the chief justice of the territory recently stated that she lacked the authority to intervene. This scenario has raised troubling questions about the existing legal framework that permits serious offenders to roam free while awaiting further legal action. Worsman questioned why the justice system tolerates such loopholes that enable violent offenders to be at large, potentially putting vulnerable individuals at risk.
The South Australian government, which has acknowledged the situation, has stated that they are coordinating with the ACT authorities to manage the man’s release. However, this reassurance offers little comfort to Worsman, whose birthday coincidentally falls on the day of his abuser’s release. He expressed a commitment to speaking out about historic rape cases, emphasising the importance of child safety.
Although authorities theoretically have three days to prevent the offender’s release, sources suggest such an intervention is unlikely. Worsman has highlighted a sense of urgency and concern that the man could evade law enforcement before facing court the following day.
This troubling case underscores the ongoing challenges within the legal system regarding the management of sex offenders and the need for more robust safeguards to protect potential victims.
For support, individuals can reach out to services like the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT and Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.