AusLeisure

Stephen Mitchell, a former national rock climbing coach, has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for sexual offences against six girls.

Having been convicted of seven sexual offences against six girls between 1994 and 2008, Mitchell, aged 57, was sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday to 13 years and five months in jail with a non-parole period of nine years.

The conviction also included charges of persistent abuse of a child and maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.

He met five of the girls through rock climbing, or his work with the Police Community Youth Club (PCYC) in Canberra, and met the other girl through a social activity.

In passing sentence, Justice David Mossop said Mitchell had abused a "gross disparity of age and power".

Justice Mossop said the abuse had "long-lasting and fundamental effects on the victims", in some cases leading to "anxiety, a lack of trust, and perceived lack of self-worth", stating “those impacts in turn affect their parents, partners and children.”

The court also heard Mitchell had been diagnosed with a paedophilia disorder.

Four of the victims linked arms as they left court before one of them, Elizabeth Hall, made a statement to the media.

She advised “thank you to the other victims, if we'd not found each other we would all still be isolated and silent

"Achieving justice has been healing … but it has been difficult, too difficult.

"I'm glad he's in jail."

The Court previously heard from Mitchell's victims, who spoke of the lasting impact of the abuse.

Some victims told the court of how Mitchell had "destroyed" their lives, leading to suicide attempts as teenagers, and that they remained "haunted" by him throughout their adult lives.

Mitchell will be eligible for parole in May 2032.

Image: Stephen Mitchell. Supplied.

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