Dennis Ferguson (sex offender)

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = Dennis Ferguson


image_size =
image_caption =
date_of_birth = birth year and age|1948
place_of_birth =
date_of_death =
place_of_death =
alias =
charge =
conviction = Kidnapping, Sodomy, Gross indecency, Carnal knowledge
penalty = 14 years imprisonment
status = Released
occupation =
spouse =
parents =
children =

Dennis Ferguson (born 1948Fact|date=July 2008) is an Australian child sex offender who in 1987 kidnapped three children from their home in New South Wales and raped them over a period of three days in a Brisbane hotel.cite news | last = | first = | date = January 11, 2003 | title = Push to extradite paedophile to NSW | work = The Gold Coast Bulletin ] Later, one of the children became suicidal and all required long-term counselling.cite news | last = Doneman | first = Paula | date = January 8, 2003 | title = Child-sex monster to go free | work = The Courier Mail ] Ferguson was convicted of kidnapping, sodomy, gross indecency, indecent dealing and carnal knowledge the following year. In 1989, the Brisbane Supreme Court sentenced Ferguson to 14 years in jail, saying that his chance of rehabilitation was "nil".

In 2003, Ferguson was released from jail, and eight months later was found to have failed to comply with his reporting conditions, as he had taken a job selling cleaning products to schools and not informed police of his potential contact with children. This led to a 15 month jail sentence.cite news | last = Miller | first = Lisa | date = November 25, 2003 | title = Released child-sex offender back in jail | work = The Courier Mail ]

After his release in late 2004, Ferguson returned to Queensland, where he took up residence in Toowoomba, Bundaberg and later Murgon, 270 km north of Brisbane.cite news | last = Lappeman | first = Suzanne | date = February 3, 2005 | title = Predator under siege in Ipswich | work = The Gold Coast Bulletin ] Community protests forced his relocation each time, and after it was revealed that he had rented a house one block from a child care centre in Murgon, he was forced to relocate twice in 24 hours - once from Murgon and then again from Ipswich,cite news | date = November 11, 2005 | title = Paedophile relocated from sensitive area | work = AAP News (Australia) ] with the then Queensland Deputy Opposition Leader, Jeff Seeney, arguing in support of the community actions.

Ferguson was later charged with having indecently assaulted two girls, aged 4 and 5, in 2005,cite news | last = Lill | first = Jasmin | date = February 21, 2007 | title = Man accused of touching young sisters in their home | work = The Courier Mail ] and it was subsequently revealed that he had been residing in Miles, Queensland, with a 17 year old girl, who at the time was a runaway ward of the state.cite news | last = Koch | first = Tony | date = December 21, 2005 | title = State ward found with notorious pedophile | work = The Australian ] Ferguson was released in July, 2008 with a permanent stay of proceedings, after the judge found that Ferguson would not be able to receive a fair trial in Queensland.cite news | last = Fraser | first = Andrew | date = July 3, 2008 | title = Pedophile out of jail and in hiding as A-G lodges appeal | work = The Australian ]

He resided in Carbrook, Queensland, but was relocated again after angry protests forced him out. [cite news | last = AAP | date = July 10, 2008 | title = Pedophile Ferguson to be moved again | work = The Courier Mail ] He is currently in a secret location.

References