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Courts / New South Wales

'Evil' Catholic priest who sexually abused girls in foster care jailed

ABC News
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Child Sexual AbuseCourtsCrimeReligious Leaders

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  • Former Catholic priest Robert Hickman has been jailed in Western Australia for sexually abusing two girls in Perth in 1990.
  • In a statement to the court, one of the victims described her abuser as a "very evil man".
  • Robert James Hickman, 81, was before imprisoned for sexual offences in New South Wales against multiple victims.
  • The court heard the Perth victims were aged 11 and 13 when Hickman flew over from Sydney on official business in 1990, and attended a dinner with other members of the Catholic Church at their foster home.
  • Nine years later, the foster mother reported the incident to the Catholic Church's WA Professional Standards Office, and received a letter of apology from Hickman.

5 sentences from our version of the report, chosen to cover it. Nothing here is written; every line is in the article below. How

Robert James Hickman was previously imprisoned for sexual offences in New South Wales against multiple victims.

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All two things this headline claims are in the report.

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Former Catholic priest Robert Hickman has been jailed in Western Australia for sexually abusing two girls in Perth in 1990.

The 81-year-old was before jailed in New South Wales for similar offences.

In a statement to the court, one of the victims described her abuser as a "very evil man".

A former Catholic priest and serial paedophile who sexually abused two young girls in foster care 36 years ago has been jailed for more than two years.

Robert James Hickman, 81, was before imprisoned for sexual offences in New South Wales against multiple victims.

Hickman had pleaded guilty to sexual penetration of a child, and indecent dealing with a child in Perth in 1990.

WA District Court Judge Karen Shepherd described his actions as a "breach of trust" given his position, and too serious to justify a suspended term.

The court heard the Perth victims were aged 11 and 13 when Hickman flew over from Sydney on official business in 1990, and attended a dinner with other members of the Catholic Church at their foster home.

The man the girls knew as "Father Bob" then went into their bedroom to give "goodnight prayers" and read out a bible story.

The priest then groped the other girl in a similar manner before leaving the room, saying "goodnight girls, God bless, it was lovely to meet you".

Nine years later, the foster mother reported the incident to the Catholic Church's WA Professional Standards Office, and received a letter of apology from Hickman.

Shortened to 1 minute of reading, this version reads 13.2 on the Niral Score.

You are reading our version, not theirs. This is ABC News's report shortened to its most important sentences, in plainer words, with verdicts and loaded words taken out. Plain description stays, and so do adjectives that carry a fact, such as "former" or "federal". The reporting, the facts and the quotations are theirs — quotations are never edited — and the indicators beside it measure this version. Hover or tap Adjectives to see every one left in the text.

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Outlet Niral ScoreAdjectivesSourcingSentimentHappiness
ABC Newsas they published this story 14.3 4 70 -0.6 7.3
Mundane Readneutralized from ABC News 14.3 4 70 -0.6 7.3

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