Latest news with #JusticeChristensen
ABC News
7 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Man who stole his own dog and attacked housemate receives drug and alcohol treatment order
A 35-year-old Canberra man who stole his own dog from the pound and then violently attacked his housemate with a hockey stick has been sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court. Kyle Hiscox pleaded guilty to a series of charges including a threat to kill, multiple assaults causing actual bodily harm and burglary after he broke locks and cut the fence to retrieve his dog. He has been in jail since the assault, and today was given a mixed sentence which included a drug and alcohol treatment order. The court heard Hiscox's dog, known as Nova, had been found wandering in January last year, before it was taken in by rangers from the pound. Hiscox was later found to be unsuitable to own a dog, something he told pre-sentence report authors was unfair, because he loved his dog so much. Acting Justice Rebecca Christensen said his "behaviour was misguided by care for his dog". She said while not sophisticated, the crime had been premeditated and there was damage to the pound. Hiscox had been seeking a drug and alcohol treatment order for all his crimes, but Acting Justice Christensen sentenced him to three months for the burglary, which she said he had already served. He was sentenced to more jail time for a second offence, after he refused to give police access to his phone. Acting Justice Christensen said neither of the crimes could be said to have been substantially driven by Hiscox's addictions, making him ineligible for a drug and alcohol treatment order. But she said the violent attack on his housemate did fall within the rules, because Hiscox had been affected by the use of GHB at the time. Hiscox told pre-sentence report authors he had been "out of his mind" at the time. He hit the victim several times including on the head, and then held a light in his eyes saying: "You know what I am, don't you? If you ever tell anybody about this the last thing you're gonna see is a bright light like this". Hiscox then headbutted the victim. The court heard the victim was left so emotionally scarred he had to leave town. One report raised concerns Hiscox had minimised his behaviour and not complied with orders before. But Acting Justice Christensen said she was satisfied that the ten months he had spent in jail had had a deterrent effect on him. She also noted his own report that he feels he is now further down the track to recovery than he has ever been. Hiscox has been given an 18-month drug and alcohol treatment order, with a requirement that he spend much of it in a residential rehabilitation centre, while being closely supervised by the court. As Hiscox was taken away Acting Justice Christensen asked: "Are you ready for this?" Hiscox chuckled with relief as he replied: "Yes, I'm ready".
ABC News
29-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Former AFL umpire coach behind bars for sexually abusing Canberra 16-year-old in 1980's
A former AFL umpire coach will spend four months behind bars after sexually abusing a teenage boy after training sessions in Canberra in the 1980s. Michael Rigo was 30 when he met his 16-year-old victim in 1985, offering him a lift after the boy's bike got a flat tyre on the way home from a football umpire tournament. Rigo was also wearing an umpire uniform at the time. The meeting led to Rigo, now 70, coaching the boy and becoming friendly with his parents. Over the next 18 months Rigo committed four acts of indecency against the boy — two in his car and two at his house. The ACT Supreme Court heard Rigo told the boy not to tell anyone about the incidents as it would hurt the boy's future career aspirations. It wasn't until two years ago that the victim disclosed the abuse to his then-girlfriend, and later to his parents, identifying Rigo as the perpetrator. ACT Policing began investigating the allegations in early 2023 and arrested Rigo at his Denman Prospect home in July. He was initially charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four counts of acts of indecency without consent. He was granted conditional bail after spending two days in custody, and later pleaded guilty to the four charges of acts of indecency without consent before a trial date was set. In sentencing Rigo today, Acting Justice Rebecca Christensen said he "exploited the victim", adding there was "insidiousness to the offending". "The offender was plainly aware of the wrongfulness," she said. Acting Justice Christensen also revealed the "pervasive impact" the abuse had taken on the victim's life. She said these included a persistent fear of being alone with other men, difficulty maintaining friendships, and the failure of two marriages due to trust issues. She said the victim had also used alcohol to "numb himself". The court heard today that Rigo had submitted a letter expressing his deep regret for the hurt and ongoing harm he caused and taking full responsibility for his actions against the victim. "I accept that there has been progress since the time of the offending," Acting Justice Christensen said. In determining Rigo's sentence, Acting Justice Christensen said she considered the fact there was little-to-no risk of reoffending — as well as his age, declining health and significant caring responsibilities for his wife and son. She also factored in evidence about Rigo's contribution to the community, including as a paramedic, teaching first aid and a variety of critical roles during the COVID-19 response. But she said, ultimately, a custodial sentence was the only way of ensuring a just punishment that recognises the harm to the victim. "I cannot accept that an entirely community-based sentence order … recognises the harm done to the victim," she said. Rigo was sentenced to a two-year term of imprisonment, to be suspended after four months, which means he is set to be released in September.
