A man recently released from custody between sentencing for multiple child rape offences is under investigation after allegedly contacting one of his victims.
The alleged contact occurred after the man’s release from an Adelaide prison on Monday, following completion of his sentence for prior offences.
He was subsequently permitted to travel unaccompanied to Canberra, where he is scheduled to be sentenced next week for the abuse of Mike Worsman.
Worsman, who was abused in the 1990s and later came forward after learning his abuser had also assaulted a young girl, reported the alleged contact to police.
According to Worsman, he received text messages from his abuser containing apologies and a request for him to move on.
The content of the alleged text messages included the statement: “I hope that eventually you can let go a little, that some of the hate you feel towards me goes away,” Worsman said.
Despite Worsman’s wishes for the man to remain in custody until the Canberra sentencing, the ACT court granted him bail.
Worsman expressed concerns regarding the handling of the case, saying “the authorities have never made me feel like I am the victim, it is always about his rights, it’s always about his rights and the leniency towards him”.
“It’s an absolute breach of trust for victims that this person is able to contact me,” Worsman said.
The alleged contact is a potential breach of an intervention order imposed in South Australia.
Worsman fears for his family’s safety, saying “this is a monster who is trying to intimidate and reap fear into my family”.
Worsman made the police report at a city station to protect his family’s location. He fears his abuser may attempt to make contact in person.
South Australian Police have confirmed they are investigating the potential breach, which could result in the man’s bail being revoked.
“He deserves to be behind bars,” Worsman said.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
