Kmart kidnap predator sentenced to eight years jail
His victim was just seven-years-old
The predatory pedophile who abducted a seven-year-old girl from a Queensland shopping centre and molested her in bushland has been sentenced to eight years in jail.
Sterling Martin Keep is himself a father of two is pornography addict with a pedophilic disorder who was himself abused, the court heard.
Denise Morcombe this morning released a statement on behalf of the young girl’s mother.
“My tiny innocent girl was well aware of stranger danger, however this person was friendly to her and tricked her into following him.
“No child should ever have to go through this type of trauma and no sentence will ever be long enough to make up for the ongoing effects this will have on her.
“We, as a family, remain positive and are trying to move forward. We would like to thank the QPS, the QDPP and the Australian public for their support through this ordeal”.
Sterling Mervyn Free, 27, will be eligible for parole in August 2021
Earlier:
A Queensland man has pleaded guilty to taking a young girl from a Kmart for "immoral purposes, deprivation of liberty and indecent treatment".
Sterling Free took the seven-year-old from the Kmart at North Lakes in December last year, where she had been Christmas shopping with her mum.
It is revealed that the 26-year-old man said "follow me" to the little girl in order to lure her away from her mother.
It is believed he drove her about 30 minutes away to Pumicestone Passage, before sexually assaulting her and then returning her to the store around an hour and a half later, 7News reports.
At the time, Kmart staff spoke out about the incident.
“It happened in one of the toy aisles just here where there were heaps of kids,” said one staff member. “You could hear the mother yelling out for her daughter… you never imagine something like this will happen.”
Free was arrested after being captured on CCTV footage taking the girl from the centre and bringing her back.
Daily Mail Australia also revealed that Free was known to child protection services in Queensland and has previously been investigated by police for alleged attacks involving children.
When he was arrested his partner also spoke out about the alleged attack.
Partner of man who allegedly abducted girl from Kmart breaks her silence
The wife of a man charged with abducting and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl from a Kmart store has spoken out about the horrific incident.
Sterling Marvyn Free, 26, took the little girl from Westfield North Lakes shopping centre in Brisbane, where she had been Christmas shopping with her mum.
The father of twins allegedly drove her to nearby bushland, sexually assaulted her then returned her back to the shops.
Free’s long-term partner and mother of his children, Angie Hodgson, says she was shocked by the alleged attack.
“It’s been tough on me and my family,” she said. “We've had media at our door and I don't know what else to say.”
After the abduction, the girl was taken for medical treatment. She has not been able to tell detectives what happened during the time she was gone, the Daily Mail reports.
Staff at the Kmart store spoke about the mother’s distress upon realizing her daughter was missing.
“It happened in one of the toy aisles just here where there were heaps of kids,” said one staff member. “You could hear the mother yelling out for her daughter… you never imagine something like this will happen.”
Free was arrested after being captured on CCTV footage taking the girl from the centre and bringing her back.
Daily Mail Australia also revealed that Free was known to child protection services in Queensland and has previously been investigated by police for alleged attacks involving children.
He will remain in custody and has been refused bail.
Michelle Connolly has worked as a photo director, social media manager and photo editor at some of Australia's biggest media companies, including New Idea. She is now editor of Practical Parenting and loving mum-of-two.
