CCTV shows child predator lure girl from Kmart store
A man has admitted luring a young girl from a Brisbane Kmart store and sexually assaulting her in bushland.
The seven-year-old was Christmas present shopping with her mother at Kmart in the Westfield North Lakes shopping centre on Saturday December 8 when Sterling Mervyn Free lured her away.
CCTV obtained exclusively by 9News shows the young girl following the then 26-year-old as he calmly walks out of the store.
Sterling Free walks from the Kmart store, followed by a seven-year-old girl (blurred in yellow). 9News
The girl cannot be identified for legal reasons. 9News
Minutes earlier he can be seen stalking the aisles of the toy section, before doubling back and walking past the girl, saying “follow me”.
The predator and the young girl walk past dozens of unsuspecting shoppers and right out the front door.
He walks past the girl in an aisle of the Kmart store. 9News
She is seen following him through the shopping centre, surrounded by shoppers. 9News
The pair then walk straight out the door. 9News
Free then drove the girl to secluded bushland at Pumicestone Passage, about 30 minutes’ drive away, where he sexually assaulted her, before returning her to the shopping centre more than an hour later where she was left alone to search for her frantic mother.
The girl’s mother, who cannot be identified, was in court today as Free pleaded guilty to three charges; taking a child for immoral purpose, deprivation of liberty and indecent treatment of a child under 12.
The father-of-twins had recently separated from his partner prior to the incident.
Sterling Free. Supplied
Shaune Irving from Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers today said his client was relieved that an end to the matter was in sight.
“He wants to resolve the matter and deal with the matter before the courts and have his punishment delivered, and he wants to do that as quickly as possible,” Mr Irving said.
He said Free’s actions and instructions to his lawyers demonstrated a “level of remorse”.
Free will be sentenced on October 8.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
