IVAN CLUNIE PERTH CHILD RAPIST WITH DEMENTIA ESCAPES JAIL BUT REGISTERED AS SEX OFFENDER

A man accused of heinous sexual crimes against children in Perth, Ivan Clunie, aged 67, has been officially registered on the Sex Offenders Register following a court ruling that prevents him from facing further imprisonment. Clunie was convicted of grooming and raping two young girls over a span of more than a decade, with incidents dating back to 1992 and continuing until 2008. Despite his diagnosis of dementia, which rendered him unfit to stand trial, the court found him responsible for the serious offenses he committed.

During the court proceedings, Judge Lorna Drummond QC emphasized the gravity of Clunie's actions. She stated, “I heard evidence in this case in your absence. I was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you committed these sexual acts. There are no grounds for acquitting you. These are very serious sexual acts. They include multiple rapes of two young women over a 15-year period. You systematically groomed these young women for your own gratification. I have read the victim impact statements and it is clear your actions caused ongoing harm. I had no hesitation in believing the evidence from the victims, which was utterly compelling. Consequently, I believe you committed these sexual acts.”

The court detailed the disturbing timeline of the offenses. The first victim, a girl, was just six years old when Clunie began abusing her, with the assaults starting during her childhood. The abuse continued for nearly six years after her eighth birthday, with Clunie raping her multiple times. The second victim was only 10 years old when she was targeted, and her abuse started when she was 14. The assaults on her persisted into her twenties. The victims recounted how Clunie had initially befriended them, only to later threaten and manipulate them into silence.

Law enforcement had considered issuing a sexual offences prevention order against Clunie to prevent further harm. However, due to his deteriorating mental health caused by dementia, such measures were deemed unfeasible. Judge Drummond clarified, “I am not entitled, as a matter of law, when you are unfit for trial but have committed these acts, to send you to jail. I do not make any order.” As a result, Clunie was not sentenced to imprisonment but was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of five years, ensuring some level of monitoring and public safety oversight. The case highlights the complex legal and ethical challenges faced when dealing with offenders suffering from severe mental health conditions, especially in cases involving such grave crimes against vulnerable victims.