Illawarra Man Admits to Sexually Abusing 9-Year-Old Boy After 'Pinky Promise'
An Illawarra man in his 60s has pleaded guilty to grooming and sexually abusing a nine-year-old boy over a four-month period, using a 'pinky promise' to coerce the child into silence. The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim's identity, appeared via audio-visual link in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday morning.
Details of the Abuse
Court documents reveal the abuse occurred during the Christmas school holidays in December 2024 and January 2025. The man stopped his vehicle behind trees and handed the child a mobile phone displaying pornography, saying, 'Here you go.' He then exited the car, approached the passenger side, and sexually touched the boy for approximately five minutes. Afterward, he demanded, 'Pinky promise me you won't tell anyone.'
The abuse continued on multiple occasions:
- Between January and April 2025, while driving to a Berkeley takeaway shop, the man again showed the child pornographic images on his phone and sexually assaulted him before collecting a fish and chip order.
- In April 2025, near a go-karting facility, he repeated the assault for a third time in his vehicle.
- During a sleepover at an Illawarra home, the man sexually touched the child after the boy expressed fear in a lounge room.
Disclosure and Legal Proceedings
On May 18, 2025, the tearful victim told his mother he had 'something important' to share, disclosing the abuse and the pinky promise. Police were notified the following day. In court, the man, dressed in prison greens, pleaded guilty through his solicitor, Laura Fennell, to grooming a child under 14 for unlawful sexual activity and two counts of intentionally sexually touching a child under 10. Two additional charges will be considered on a Form 1 during sentencing.
Judge David Williams explained the proceedings, committing the matter to the District Court for sentencing. A court date is expected to be set in May.
