Former national rock climbing coach Stephen Mitchell has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for sexual offences against six girls.
Mitchell, 57, was convicted of seven sexual offences against six girls between 1994 and 2008, including charges of persistent abuse of a child and maintaining a sexual relationship with a child.
He met five of the girls through rock climbing, or his work with the Police Community Youth Club (PCYC) in Canberra, and met the other girl through a social activity.
On Monday, in the ACT Supreme Court, he was sentenced to 13 years and five months in jail with a non-parole period of nine years.
He will be eligible for parole in May 2032.
In handing down his sentence, Justice David Mossop said Mitchell had abused a "gross disparity of age and power".
He said the abuse had "long-lasting and fundamental effects on the victims", in some cases leading to "anxiety, a lack of trust, and perceived lack of self-worth."
"Those impacts in turn affect their parents, partners and children," Justice Mossop said.
The court also heard Mitchell had been diagnosed with a paedophilia disorder.
Four of the victims linked arms as they left court before one of them, Elizabeth Hall, made a statement to the media.
"Thank you to the other victims, if we'd not found each other we would all still be isolated and silent," she said.
"Achieving justice has been healing … but it has been difficult, too difficult.
"I'm glad he's in jail."
Victims tell of how abuse 'destroyed' their lives
The court previously heard from Mitchell's victims, who spoke of the lasting impact of the abuse.
Some victims told the court of how Mitchell had "destroyed" their lives, leading to suicide attempts as teenagers, and that they remained "haunted" by him throughout their adult lives.
"He isolated me, he controlled me and he abused me," one victim who was coached by Mitchell between the ages of nine and 15 said.
"My childhood memories are scarred, distorted nightmares – I still struggle to think about those years."
Another victim said her fear stemming from the abuse meant that even as an adult she had to constantly relocate and had not lived in one property for more than 18 months.
"My mental health has suffered greatly, I have been so scared and fearful," she said.
"Some days are crippling, and I can't get out of bed or move."
