Australia rejects abusive NZ stepfather

By BRUCE BUTLER

PERTH - A New Zealander who cruelly exploited his stepdaughter in a "sex for support" deal is to be deported from Australia.

Leslie Selby, aged 49, was convicted in April 1999 of a series of offences relating to the abuse of his teenage stepdaughter.

Selby received four years' jail.

In December 1999 Australian immigration authorities decided to deport him.

He appealed, but the decision has been confirmed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Queensland, where Selby is living.

In his judgment, the deputy president of the tribunal, Des Breen, said: "These offences amounted to the sexual exploitation of the applicant's stepdaughter in return for money and support she should have had the right to expect from him.

"Such a crime can only be described as truly abhorrent according to community standards."

Selby pleaded guilty to indecent treatment of a child under 16 years, procuring an act of gross indecency and maintaining a sexual relationship with a child under 16 years with circumstances of aggravation.

He said he had no recollection of the offences, due to frequent episodes of depression and blackouts.

He suffers from a debilitating condition similar to Crohn's disease, which requires constant medication and frequent hospital stays.

Selby had lived most of his life in New Zealand, arriving in Australia in December 1994.

Mr Breen said: "The Australian community does expect to be protected from abhorrent crimes and that non-citizens who are convicted of such will be removed from Australia."

Selby has three other daughters, all aged under 10, who were writing to him in prison. But Selby's wife has now prevented all contact with him.

Mr Breen said: "Mr Selby maintains that he loves his children and if permitted to remain in Australia, he will endeavour to see them again."

If Selby was deported, it was clear that the children would not be going with him and he might never see them again.

"He says he knows no one in New Zealand who will assist him. Managing his disease in a country where he has no accommodation, no employment and no support network will result in severe hardship."

The actual Crohn's disease is an acute inflammation of the bowel, accompanied by abdominal pain, diarrhoea and often rectal bleeding.

"However, given prevailing community standards, such hardship does not outweigh the need to protect the Australian community and the abhorrence of the crime," said Mr Breen.

"While the tribunal acknowledged that it will be difficult for the applicant to re-establish himself in New Zealand, the expectations of the Australian community demand that the deportation order be upheld."

Selby has no previous criminal record.