Get the appConvicted paedophile Allan Hopkins, 47, has been arrested and extradited to South Australia. He was arrested in New South Wales in May 2024 after a police appeal for information. Hopkins is wanted in South Australia over alleged serious sexual offending against a child under 18. Police also said he was wanted for alleged offending in Victoria and Queensland. He is due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Convicted paedophile Allan Hopkins, 47, has been arrested and extradited to South Australia. He was arrested in New South Wales in May 2024 after a police appeal for information. Hopkins is wanted in South Australia over alleged serious sexual offending against a child under 18. Police also said he was wanted for alleged offending in Victoria and Queensland. He is due to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Four men have been charged with 57 child sex offences after police executed six search warrants across Brisbane and Far North Queensland. The operation was run by Argos with support from specialist units and the Australian Federal Police-led Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team. Charges include possessing and making child exploitation material and using a carriage service to share it. Police also laid drug and weapons offences. The men were arrested in October and have court dates set in Atherton, Brisbane and Innisfail. Detective Acting Inspector Les Lucas urged parents to talk with children about their online activity.
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Get the appJeffrey Donaldson, a former leader of Northern Ireland's largest unionist party, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for historic child sex offences. He was convicted in June of rape, gross indecency and indecent assault involving two girls between 1985 and 2008, charges he denied. Judge Paul Ramsey sentenced him at Newry Crown Court, saying he had shown no regret or apology. Donaldson's wife, Eleanor Donaldson, was found to have aided and abetted the offences, but she faced only a fact-finding hearing because of mental health issues.
South Australia is considering legislation to prohibit good character references for all offenders during sentencing. The proposed reforms follow a national advocacy campaign led by survivor advocate Harrison James, which initially targeted child sex offence cases. Current laws already restrict such references for child sex offenders, but the new bill would extend this ban to all crimes. Attorney-General Kyam Maher stated the changes would align SA with other states and prevent victim-survivors from experiencing further trauma. Public consultation on the reforms is set to begin soon, with a bill expected in parliament next year.