Peter Albert Crawford was a highly respected netball coach and church member, who used his authoritative standing in the community to sexually abuse girls under his care over four years.
The former president of the St George District Netball Association was on Friday spared jail time for sexually touching four girls, with a judge finding the low objective seriousness of his crimes warranted conditional release.
Crawford, 73, was found guilty of 13 offences against the girls, aged 11 to 19.
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The offending began in 2016 and ceased in 2020 when one of his victims reported to another adult that he touched her buttocks.
Between March and June 2019, he touched an 11-year-old student on her clothing over her genitals on multiple occasions while teaching her netball.
The touching made her feel “so scared”, she told the court.
Crawford’s position of authority over the victim as a coach was an aggravating factor in the seriousness of the offending, Judge Phillip Mahony said in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court.
Nevertheless, given the offences were fleeting, lacked skin-to-skin contact and did not involve planning or grooming, he found the objective seriousness was below the mid-range.
The judge sentenced the former commonwealth public servant to a two-year community correction order and 150 hours of community service.
A psychologist had submitted that Crawford was at a higher risk of reoffending because he exhibited a hostility towards women in a sexist remark he made.
The court heard he told the psychologist “none of them were attractive anyway”, as if to prove he would not have offended against them.
Crawford was a low risk of recidivism, Mahony said, even though he exhibited no remorse and lacked insight into his offending.
He had no criminal history and had led an “otherwise exemplary life, both in his career in the public service and in his community service”, he said.
The defence, in its submissions to the court, argued he was a “touchy-feely kind of person” of good character.
Crawford, wearing a dark suit and glasses, stood stoically in the dock as the judge read his sentence.
He embraced a large contingent of family and friends gathered in the courtroom, and whispered “justice half done”.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.