Sydney baseball coach jailed over 'bizarre', 'inhuman' assaults on boys

Mould had pleaded guilty after his 2019 arrest to 30 counts of common assault, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, 11 charges of producing of child abuse material and one charge of possessing child abuse material – in total representing hundreds of incidents from 1987 to 2017, involving 15 known victims aged between nine and 20.

In addition to "wristers" and "toers", Mould's arsenal of physical punishments included what he called "bee stings" or "lazos", which involved using elastic bands to whip the soles of the boys' feet as many as 60 times in a single assault, causing intense pain and welts.

For another one, called a "crusher", Mould would take the boy's foot in his lap and fold the foot inward in a crushing motion. Another torment involved repeatedly striking the boys in the palm with a wooden spoon.

In Mould's videos of many of the assaults, he can be heard goading, scolding, encouraging or joking as his victims are seen writing in agony, often sweating and crying hysterically. He would tell the boys to "keep your mouth open" and that he wanted to "hear" their pain.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Garry Neilson said in his 16 years of sitting in criminal jurisdictions, "this is the most bizarre case that has come before me".

"I find it very difficult to accept that any adult human being could sit there and joke as a 15 year old boy was writhing in agony and crying hysterically. Such behaviour is totally repugnant and might be described as inhuman," Judge Neilson said.

But he noted that Mould's offending was not sexual and said he is not a paedophile, drawing a distinction between his videos of the physical abuse and "child pornography".

Of Mould's 15 known victims – now in their 20s and 30s – five submitted victim impact statements describing the fear and pain inflicted on them, and the lasting psychological damage of Mould's abuse.

One victim wrote "Gus would tell me these punishments would make me a better baseball player and be mentally and physically tougher for my life ahead. He told me I would be able to handle difficult situations better than other people and his physical abuse would make me a better person."

Instead, the boys wrote his abuse left them anxious, ashamed and confused – with many describing problems trusting people.

One victim, since diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, wrote that he was "stalked" by Mould, who would stop him on his way home for a "torture session".

"I can’t get memories of Gus out of my head. I often feel unsafe and that Gus is still going to come and get me," he said in his statement.

Judge Neilson said Mould had no prior criminal record and was previously a man of good character, but that such character carried less weight in a case such as this as he had used it to gain "trust he clearly abused".

In a letter to the court, Mould wrote that he is now "appalled" with his actions: "I want to say sorry but cannot. It is difficult for me to find the words to express my shame and regret for the damage I know I have done."

Judge Neilson accepted Mould's remorse as genuine. He also accepted a psychiatrist's diagnosis of Mould with high functioning autism spectrum disorder.

Mould was sentenced to seven years and six months jail. He will be eligible for parole on June 24, 2024.

*Name has been changed

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