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ABC News
ABC News
National

Former rock climbing coach Stephen Mitchell pleads guilty to child sexual offences against six girls

Former national rock climbing coach Stephen Mitchell has pleaded guilty to sexual offences against six girls, between 1994 and 2008.

Mitchell, 56, was first charged in February for acts of indecency involving three girls who were aged between 11 and 14  years old. 

More victims have since come forward and today he pleaded guilty to nine charges, including persistent abuse of a child and acts of indecency against three more girls who he coached.

Mitchell is the first person to be charged with persistent sexual abuse of a child after the ACT changed its law in August.

The charge had been titled "maintaining a sexual relationship with a child", but that was changed after lobbying from victim's groups and former Australian of the year Grace Tame.

Mitchell has also admitted he gave false information when seeking a security clearance.

But he pleaded not guilty to one of the sexual abuse charges, in relation to an alleged victim who was not a child at the time.

That case will be heard in the ACT Magistrates Court in August next year.

Mitchell has now been committed for sentencing in the ACT Supreme Court, for the charges in relation to the six victims.

A date for sentencing has yet to be set.

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