Qld: Notorious sex offender charged again

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2008
Qld: Notorious sex offender charged again

(Eds Note: This version is not for use in Queensland or the internet)



By Nadine McGrath

BRISBANE, April 5 AAP - A notorious sex offender has been remanded in custody charged
with the rape of a 61-year-old woman on the Gold Coast.

Robert John Fardon, 59, appeared in Brisbane Magistrate's Court today charged with
rape, assaulting a person over 60 years and administering a stupefying drug with intent
to commit an offence.

Police said the victim was allegedly attacked at her Palm Beach home on Wednesday morning.

Magistrate Noel Nunan remanded Fardon to reappear in Southport Magistrates Court on
April 14 for mention.

Fardon has spent most of his life in prison for violent sex offences. He was the first
Queensland prisoner to be kept in jail under a continuing detention order after serving
his full sentence in 2003.

He was released under a 10-year supervision order in 2006, but was taken back into
custody in July last year after breaching the order by travelling to Townsville.

He was released again in October under a stronger order and will appear in Brisbane
Supreme Court on Monday charged with two counts of breaching the conditions.

Allegations of another breach have sparked public debate about whether the Dangerous
Prisoners (Sexual offenders) Act Orders offer any real protection to the community.

News Limited today reported a list of 30 Queenslanders subject to the special orders.

It said a second notorious sex offender, convicted pedophile Mark Anthony Foy, was
also being questioned over the alleged rape.

However, neither police nor Police Minister Judy Spence would confirm whether Foy was
being questioned.

One of the conditions on the order is that convicted sex offenders should not associate
with each other.

Outside the court, Queensland Prison Officers Association vice-president Steve Burrows
expressed anger that the state government was ignoring their warnings about Fardon, claiming
he had been associating with Foy for some time.

"It is distressing for our members that our constant warnings go unheeded," Mr Burrows
told reporters.

"(We deal) with these people 12 hours a day. Psychologists and counsellors spend 10
minutes with them once every three months."

Queensland Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg yesterday called for the resignation
of Ms Spence, who last year promised Fardon would be "watched like a hawk" upon release.

"If it transpires that this character has committed a serious offence and harmed an
innocent Queenslander whilst being 'watched like a hawk' by the minister for police, then
the minister has no choice but to resign," Mr Springborg said.

But Ms Spence said the state government was doing all it could to monitor sex offenders
like Fardon, who wore an electronic surveillance bracelet.

"We have the toughest legislation in Australia," she told reporters yesterday.

"We are learning all the time. This legislation is only five years young and we continue
to refine how we supervise people."

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KEYWORD: RAPE QLD

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