One of Australia's most notorious paedophiles is set to be freed 18 years after the 'monster' was jailed for abusing boys at a surf lifesaving club
- Former magistrate Peter Liddy was jailed for 25 years in 2001 for sex abuse
- He had abused boys at Adelaide surf life saving club between 1983 and 1986
- His 18-year non-parole period ends this year, meaning he can apply for release
Former magistrate Peter Liddy (pictured) was jailed for 25 years in 2001
One of Australia's most notorious paedophiles may be freed after 18 years in jail.
Former magistrate Peter Liddy was jailed for 25 years in 2001 for sexually abusing boys at an Adelaide surf life saving club between 1983 and 1986.
His 18-year non-parole period ends this year, meaning he can apply for release.
Victims' families have called him a 'monster' and said he should never be allowed out.
One family member told the ABC: 'His victims have a life sentence and live each day with their horrid, traumatic visions and memories... He should never, ever be released.'
Liddy, 75, has not yet applied for parole. If he does, he will have to go through a rigorous process including several interviews to see if he is no longer a danger to society.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman is considering the option of keeping Liddy in jail with an indefinite detention order.
She said in a statement: 'I will be seeking advice from the Crown Solicitor's Office as to whether it would be appropriate for an application to be made for Mr Liddy to be indefinitely detained on the basis that he is either unwilling to control, or incapable of controlling his sexual instincts.
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'It has been a priority of this Government to keep high-risk sexual offenders behind bars and away from the community and victims.
'The Government will be keeping close watch on this case over the next six months.'
In 2001, Liddy became the first Australian judicial officer to be convicted of child sex crimes.
He had abused boys aged eight to ten on camping trips while he was a coach of the Little Nippers between 1983 and 1986.
Because he was a magistrate and locked up with men he may have sentenced, Liddy was placed in solitary confinement in Yatala Labour Prison (pictured)
Liddy was found guilty of unlawful sexual intercourse, indecent assault and attempting to bribe a witness.
After he was sentenced, one victim said outside court: 'The sentence was actually more than I expected, but yep, happy with that.
'Hopefully he'll spend the rest of his life in prison, cause he shouldn't see the outside now.'
Another said: 'Really, you'd be happier with a no non-parole period at all. But he's got one and he's gonna be out in 18 years, but hopefully he won't see the front gates.'
Because he was a magistrate and locked up with men he may have sentenced, Liddy was placed in solitary confinement for his own protection in Yatala Labour Prison.
In 2011, he was moved to Mount Gambier Prison.
