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Kidnap Accused Gave Boys Alcohol, Court Told THREE northern suburbs boys who were allegedly abducted by a man earlier this month did not know the accused, the Adelaide Magistrates Court has heard. Paul William Thomas, 35, of no fixed address, is charged with three counts of unlawful detention, in relation to the alleged abduction, on March 14. Jayanthi McGrath, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, yesterday told the court the boys were playing in an Elizabeth Vale park when they were allegedly approached by Thomas. "(McCourt) stated that the accused dragged him into the car... and he says the other boys were dragged m the same fashion," Ms McGrath said. "The accused told the boys he wanted to be their father. "(But) this man was not known to the children - he was a complete stranger to them." The court heard Thomas drove the boys to Maslin Beach, where they smoked cigarettes, drank beer and swam naked. Later that day, it is alleged the boys were taken to o Thomas' friends house for the night. They returned to the beach the next day before Thomas was allegedly found - at 3.15pm - with the children in a Maslin Beach car park. Magistrate Grantley Harris ordered a home detention bail report be prepared and remanded Thomas in custody. Adelaide Advertiser 24-3-2004 Alexandra Economou |
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No Bail For Accused THE man accused of abducting three northern suburbs boys this month has been refused bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court. Paul William Thomas, 35, of no fixed address, is charged with three counts of unlawful detention over the alleged abduction of Anthony McCourt. 8, Joshua Feast, 9, and Joshua Smith, 10, on March 14. The court heard the boys were playing in an Elizabeth Vale park when they were allegedly offered $30 by Thomas to go to the beach with him. Magistrate Gary Gumpi refused Thomas bail and remanded him in custody to face court again next month. Adelaide Advertiser 30-3-2004 |
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A MAN accused of abducting three boys and taking them for a naked swim at Maslin's Beach is facing additional sex offence charges. The man, who cannot be identified, faced the District Court yesterday on three counts of abducting a child and six new charges of "gratifying a prurient interest" by causing the boys to expose their bodies. Court documents allege the 36-year-old told the boys - aged eight, nine and 10 - he wanted to "be their father", and swam with them until they became sunburned. But the man has denied the charges, saying the boys approached him because they were undernourished and "wanted a feed". Yesterday, his counsel asked that arraignment on the charges be postponed by one week to allow further negotiations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Judge Peter Allan agreed, remanding the man in custody until Monday. In prosecution documents filed with the court, the man is accused of approaching the three boys in a park on March 14 and asking if "they wanted a swim". When they agreed, he drove them to Maslin's Beach where all four of them undressed and swam naked until the boys "became sunburnt on their bodies and their backsides". Meanwhile, their disappearance sparked a police manhunt involving the police helicopter, 40 State Emergency Service volunteers, mounted police, the Metropolitan Fire Service and the STAR Group. After swimming, the man allegedly bought beer at a Moana drive- through and arranged for them all to stay the night at a house in Morphett Vale. In the documents, two of the boys claim the man gave them beer to drink, while one says the man expressed his desire "to be their father and they his sons". When one of the boys said he preferred his foster parents, the man allegedly asked: "Wouldn't you rather live with me?" The man and the boys were found at Maslin's the next day. It is alleged police found pornographic magazines in the car, which the boys said they had been shown. The documents say the man told police the boys had approached him in the park. He told police, the boys "looked hungry and physically abused", and he took them so he could help them. Adelaide Advertiser (6-7-2004) Sean Fewster |
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Man Admits Abduction A MAN has admitted abducting three boys and taking them to a nude beach, but denied any sex offences. In the District Court yesterday, Paul William Craig Matthew Thomas pleaded guilty to three counts of abducting a child. But the 36- year- old pleaded not guilty to six counts of "gratifying a prurient interest" by causing the boys to expose their bodies. Yesterday, Adam Gaite, for Thomas, asked sentencing for the abduction charges be put off until the other charges had been to trial. Judge Christopher Lee agreed, remanding Thomas in custody for an August hearing. Adelaide Advertiser (13-7-2004) |
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Abductor Preyed On Vulnerable Boys A man "preyed" upon the vulnerability of three children he abducted from an Elizabeth park, the District Court has heard. The court was told that on March 14 last year, Paul William Craig Matthew Thomas, 38, took the boys and drove then to Maslin Beach. After an extensive police search, the boys were found in a car park the day after they were reported missing. Thomas pleaded guilty to three counts of abducting a child and was subsequently found guilty by Acting Judge Andrew Wilson on six counts of inducing a child to expose his body. Emily Telfer, prosecuting told the court yesterday there was "no violence or false pretences required" to commit these offences. "These were vulnerable boys (and) it is clear that Mr Thomas preyed on that vulnerability," she said. "The protection of children is of particular concern in sentencing for this matter." She said there was a risk Thomas would re-offend and that he had not acknowldged his wrongdoing against the three boys. "He told psychiatrist Jules Begg his motivation to the children was one of kindness," she said. Adam Gaite, for Thomas, said his client accepted he had "done something wrong". "I accept that (this) is a serious case that has plainly caused the community some concern," he said. Acting Judge Wilson remanded Thomas in custody for sentencing on Friday. Adelaide Advertiser (2-7-2005) Alexandra Economou |
See MAKO/ File (Paul Thomas)
Child Abduction and Prevention (Amber Alert)
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