Notorious paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale is almost certain to die in jail after admitting to raping MORE boys - but claims he should be released

By Jackson Barron
Daily Mail
May 3, 2020

http://dailym.ai/2Sw6ad8

Paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale is likely to die in jail as he faces 14 more sexual abuse charges

Ridsdale (pictured in 2002) has been charged with 136 offences, with some of his victims as young as four-years-old

Ridsdale's lawyer Tim Marsh argued that Ridsdale (pictured being arrested) should not face more jail time for his new charges, arguing he should have been sentenced for his crimes all at once

• Gerald Ridsdale is facing 14 more assault charges from Victoria in 1973 to 1979
• The charges will likely extend his release date and have Ridsdale die in prison 
• He has been charged with 136 offences, with some victims as young as four
• Ridsdale admitted more rapes and his lawyer argued he shouldn't get more time
• Barrister Tim Marsh said he should have been sentenced for his crimes at once

Paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale is likely to die in jail as he faces more sexual abuse charges.

The 85-year-old will be heard on May 14 for 10 indecent assault charges and four buggery charges in Victoria between 1973 and 1979 to further his time behind bars. 

The charges will likely extend his time behind bars beyond 2022, his earliest release date. 

Ridsdale is suffering chronic health problems including heart conditions, arthristis, bowel problems and high blood pressure.

He has been charged with 136 offences since 1994, with his barrister Tim Marsh telling The Australian he is 'a repugnant figure to many, and for reasons that are only too understandable'.

The Roman Catholic priest last week he admitted to more than a dozen rapes and indecent assaults against four victims aged seven to 16 in Victoria's west and surf coast in the 1970s.

'I plead guilty to every charge,' he said in the County Court.

Two victims were brothers who were abused when the then-parish priest took them rabbit shooting.

'We trusted our beautiful, innocent children with this b*****d without question when we should have been more vigilant on their behalf,' the elderly parents of the brothers said.

They labelled him as a 'filthy, conniving, make-believe priest and paedophile'.

The older brother was also raped by Ridsdale and suffered flashbacks from when he heard the paedophile's footsteps head to his room.

'The sound of squeaking floorboards causes me extreme anxiety,' he told the court.

The paedophile told the victim after raping him: 'Don't tell anyone anything, they won't believe you over a priest.'

Despite the former priest admitting to the abuse, Mr Marsh said his client shouldn't spend more time behind bars for the crimes.

The rapist is serving a 34-year sentence for his horrific offending, but he could also be released in less than two years if granted parole.

Mr Marsh suggested an appropriate sentence would be one that does not interfere with the earliest possible release date and if Ridsdale had been sentenced for all his crimes at once his jail time would not exceed the existing sentence.

The prosecution labelled this as 'inappropriate' and pushed for more prison time.

Judge Gerard Mullaly questioned how Ridsdale was able to offend to such a degree.

'There's something unique about the fact that he had the apparatus of the Catholic church behind him,' Mr Marsh said.

'Had he been a man in virtually any any other walk of life it's highly unlikely it would have gone on for the extent that it did for as long as it did.'

But the judge said Ridsdale could not be punished for the 'failings of the institution'.