William Tyrrell’s adoptive parents were sentenced to 12 months good behavior bail after they were found guilty of bullying a child.
William’s adoptive mother and adoptive father appeared at Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court on Wednesday, where they were sentenced for a series of offences.
The charges emerged after police placed surveillance devices in his home and car and secretly recorded 1,000 hours of audio over 14 months as part of Strike Force Rosann, which was set up to investigate William’s disappearance, the court heard. court.
The couple appeared in court on Wednesday, along with several supporters, including the former officer in charge of the Tyrrell investigation, Gary Jubelin.
The adoptive father was found guilty last week of bullying a child.
The boy was not William, who has not been seen since he disappeared aged three in 2014 while at his adoptive grandmother’s home in Kendall, on the New South Wales mid-north coast.
The court was told the foster father had sworn and shouted at the boy, causing him to cry as he walked to school.
In undercover police recordings the adoptive father could be heard telling the boy “every damn day” and then “move, f**k, move.”
The 57-year-old was also cleared of assaulting the same child.
Magistrate Susan McIntyre found that while the adoptive parent had used physical force to impose a 44-minute waiting time, that amounted to a lawful use of force.
The 58-year-old foster mother was found guilty of intimidation, while a similar charge of intimidation was dismissed.
The woman was found guilty of intimidation related to threats to slap the boy during heated arguments.
The woman was also sentenced Wednesday on two counts of assault after pleading guilty to kicking the boy and hitting him with a wooden spoon.
The man’s lawyer, Phillip English, told the court that the adoptive father had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and prescribed antidepressants since William’s disappearance in 2014.
William’s adoptive mother and adoptive father (pictured together) appeared at Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court on Wednesday where they were sentenced for a series of offences.
He argued that the crimes occurred during a time of great anxiety and financial vulnerability.
The court was told that during their lifetime the couple had cared for 12 foster children, which English described as an “incredible act of community service”.
He also said the couple had been the subject of an “incredible” amount of media interest, which had taken a toll on both adoptive parents.
He asked that the court address the charges through a non-conviction.
The adoptive mother’s lawyer, John Stratton SC, argued that the offending occurred against the backdrop of the tension of the ongoing investigation into William’s disappearance.
He also noted that she had expressed regret and remorse in a letter to the court.
She told the court that she had loved the foster child as her own and had hoped that the child would be returned to her care.
At one point, the woman wiped tears from her eyes as her attorney spoke about her relationship with the boy.
The couple appeared in court on Wednesday, along with several supporters, including the former officer in charge of the Tyrrell investigation, Gary Jubelin (pictured).
He argued that she had excellent prospects for rehabilitation, was unlikely to reoffend, and asked that the court not impose a sentence on her.
Despite their lawyers pushing for the matters to be resolved by non-conviction, Ms McIntyre convicted them both and sentenced them to 12-month community compliance orders.
Ms McIntyre noted that the adoptive father was in a position of responsibility and noted that the offenses were at the lower end of the spectrum of that offence.
McIntyre also noted that the adoptive mother had not come into contact with the justice system before being charged, and described her as an “admired adoptive father.”
He said that while the assault charges occurred in the context of disciplining a child, they were “never justifiable.”
The foster mother was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order, while the foster father was given a 12-month good behavior bond.
When asked if she agreed to the terms of the order, the adoptive mother told the court: “Yes.”
The couple were also fined $1,500 each after another person made fictitious bids at the auction of their Sydney home, which ultimately sold for $4.1 million.
Both previously pleaded not guilty to one count of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception.
However, prosecutors dropped the fraud charges and the couple pleaded guilty to regulatory charges.
Both pleaded guilty to hiring a third party to make fictitious offers, in violation of the Property and Securities Agents Act.
No one has ever been charged in William’s disappearance and the adoptive parents deny any knowledge or involvement.